Broomfield Taxpayer Matters

May 5, 2025

This newsletter contains the following stories and information:

Make Your Voice Heard April Event - Thank You, and Join is in May!
Council is Pushing-Polling for a "Housing Stability" tax Increase
With the looming city debt, where are all the transportation projects?
Keep an eye on the Council Consent Agenda
Upcoming Agendas
May 6, 2025, Organizational Planning Session
May 8, 2025, Budget Discussion
May 13, 2025, Regular Meeting
May 20, 2025, Study Session
May 27, 2025, Regular Meeting
City Council member contact information

Pay Attention to these upcoming items in the Broomfield Council Agendas:

May 6 - Special Session

Broomfield Organizational Strategic Plan Workshop

May 8 - Special Session

2026 Budget Update - Will have budget implications for 2026.

May 13 - Regular Meeting

6D. IGA for Peace Officer Behavioral Health Support Grant
6F. 2025 Broomfield FlexRide Zero Fare Summer IGA with RTD
6G. I-25 and CO-7 Interim Mobility Hub Pedestrian Railing IGA
6I. Support DRCOG's Economic Development District and Appointing Robert Smith to Advisory Committee
7A. Public Hearing for Amending Parking/Bicycle Code Update - 2nd Reading
7B. Amending Chapter 2-60 of the B.M.C. Changing Administrative Organization - 2nd Reading
7C. Creation of the Fiscal Leadership on Water Advisory Committee
8A. Councilmember Ward's Request for Future Action - Removing Drive-Thrus as a permitted use with the City and County of Broomfield
8B. Councilmember Ward's Request for Future Action - Requiring Set-backs for Gas Stations from Residential Sensitive Businesses ( Day-Cares, Hospitals, Medical Offices, etc.)

May 20 - Study Session

2A. Community Survey Results
2B. Energy Code
2C. Wildland Urban Interface - state-mandated code update
2D. Transit Needs Study Update

Please let us know if you plan to attend by registering here.

Local News

Thank you for attending our "Make Your Voice Heard" event Saturday April 26, 2025.

We hope that you have a better understanding of the consent agenda, the CCOB debt profile, and understand where to find things on the CCOB website.

Please register for our next "Make Your Voice Heard" event on Saturday May 31, 2025.

“It’s A Wrap” - Recap of the 2025 Legislative Session.

Join us as we recap what happened during the 2025 Colorado Legislative Session. Learn about the craziness of the bills and procedures, and talk about what’s coming next.

Broomfield is Push-Polling for a Housing Stability Tax Increase.

Push polling is a campaigning technique used to influence survey respondents to support a given position (like increasing taxes by asking specific, loaded questions in the guise of an opinion poll. The questions are posed to mislead or bias the responder, and give weighted options to as the only valid responses to the questions.

In the case of the Broomfield Housing Stability Task Force Housing Opinion Survey that was opened recently, this is exacty what they are trying to do. They need you to agree to a possible tax increase.

(One of the questions is shown to the right.)

In other words, they have something they want to you to pay for, and they need to "sell" you on it.

The Broomfield Housing Stability Task Force Housing Opinion Survey includes 34 questions asking about housing in Broomfield, and posing 3 different suggested tax related ballot questions:

A 0.50% sales tax and use tax increase (questions 8-22).
An alternative 0.25% sales tax and use tax increase (question 23).
An alternative 1% construction excise tax on the permit value of commercial construction (question 24).
Two free form questions where you can provide comment through the survey (questions 6 and 22).

Look for key influence words, such as "passthrough" which basically means no accountability for the funding once City and Coundy of Broomfield passes it through the Broomfield Community Foundation to the Broomfield Housing Stability Task Force non-governmental organization (NGO). Notice that where it says no more than 2% will be used for administrative costs? How will that be tracked? Where will the information be shared? Does the Broomfield Housing Stability Task Force have a 501(c) designation? Will the file yearly 990 reports with the IRS?

Broomfield is like many communities in Colorado facing housing challenges. Broomfield has added pressure, not because we don't care as a community. Rather it is because councilmembers keep adding costs to construction via mandates and regulations, which are then passed on to you. Here are just a handful of the fees and costs that the Broomfield Council has heaped on developers and citizens in the last 5 years:

Developer Cash-in-Lieu fees to build in Broomfield
Increased water license, sewer license, and water reclamation fees
Increased property tax revenue, which the City and County of Broomfield kept the windfall in 2024
Increased water rates, including 50% increase to the base rate in 2025.
Council mandated single hauler program with an "opt-out" fee if you do not use the ciry's service.

As you can see, you're paying more taxes, more fees, and increased water rates and property taxes because the Broomfield Council has no problem passing the cost of the policies on to you. If this survey leads to a ballot questions, you are going to be asked give pay even more through new sales and use taxes. Don't let them tell you otherwise.

This is your opportunity to take action. Please respond to the survey and let Broomfield know your opinion on the sales tax increase questions that they are floating.

In particular, tell Broomfield that you would "Definitely Vote No, Reject" the suggested ballot questions:

Question 8 and Question 21 - 0.50% sales tax and use tax increase
Question 23 - Alternative 0.25% sales tax and use tax increase
Question 24 - Alternative 1% construction excise tax

Broomfield Anticipated Debt Raises Questions, including where are key transportation projects in their plans?

We have been digging into to the Broomfield Capital Improvement Project plans, and it is raising some serious concerns. In the video we produced to the left, we show you how Broomfield debt has changed since in 2005, where it is today, where it could be leading by 2039.

Much of the data was identified through Broomfield's annual budget documents, capital improvement plans (CIP), and presentations and staff memos from council meetings. Going from 2025 and into 2026, the staff has indicated that police department building, water towers, and water treatment facility projects are going to bring on event more debt as indicated in the 2025 Broomfield Council Focus Session - another whopping $254 million in debt to be added for those three projects (see slide 44).

Its important to note that none of the following transportation projects were included in our 2005 - 2039 projections because they are not factored into Broomfield CIP 5-year plan. In fact, you will see below that they have been removed from the plan, meaning most are not contemplated in the city's capital improvement plan.

This begs several questions:

With the huge anticipated debt coming for the water infrastructure and police department building projects, how is Broomfield going to handle the key transportation needs for the city and county - including Highway 7, US36 bridge, and Sheridan bridge needs?

Will they be handled only when they really become dire like happened with the water infrastructure?

And, how is the city going to budget and pay for these needs given the growing amount of debt they are about to take on in 2026?

This a far cry from "fiscally sustainable" planning, and Broomfield residents deserve better!

What is the Consent Agenda, and Why You Need to Keep an eye on it.

Have ever wonder why a council agenda is structured in the way that it is, and what the Consent Agenda is? According to Robert's Rules of Order, the Consent Agenda is "a valuable tool used to streamline board meeting processes. It is a component of the meeting agenda that presents multiple routine, non-controversial topics as one agenda item. The grouped items can be approved by filing a single motion and voting on it. A board member can always ask for the removal of a particular item from the consent agenda if they believe it requires further discussion before approval."

So why does the Broomfield council keep controversial items and large, costly items on the Consent Agenda, or without much discussion? Here are a couple of examples...

January 14 2025, Council Item 6B. Broomfield Heights Stormwater and Pedestrian project.

This item was not a single subject. It comingled:

3 ARPA projects ($5.7M)
2 Capital Improvement (CIP) projects ($7.7M)
1 Community Block Grant (CDBG) project

The item had 5 documents and 2 contracts for a total of 35 pages of information to wade through.

It was a $16.88M contract, that started out as a $6.39M contract. In fact, the funding history for the project shows cost bloating over 3 years, including adding $3 million in cost to the project in January 2025, just 3 months after the 2025 Annual Budget was passed!

The only question asked was from Councilmember Jean Lim regarding "project management.

Why aren't councilmembers asking more questions? The answer is simple. They are shoving huge changes to huge projects through the consent agenda to avoid serious discussions about them.

Siena Pumpstation and Pipeline Project

This project was placed into the Capital Improvement Plan in 2015 at a cost of $7.5M. In 2019, the beginning year of the pandemic, the funding for this project was stripped from the budget and put in the "beyond 5 years" category.

In 2022, the project costs had increased to $17.9M. In the 2025 budget, the costs had increased to $35.4M. That is a cost increase of $27.9M.

Again, we ask, are councilmembers asking any questions or tracking any of these projects?

March 12, 2024 - Budget Revision

Budgets and associated Amendments, should be placed in the Action Items, or Council Business, section, so that any changes can be discussed and reviewed.

We highlighted several discrepancies in the amended budget shown to the right and were ready to discuss this during the Action Items portion of the budget. However, Councilmember Marsh-Holschen removed this budget item from the Action Items section and put it into the Consent Agenda, where no one could ask questions. His excuse was that only Capital Improvement Items were being rolled over from the prior year.

Councilmember Marsh-Holschen also stated that the drop in the Enterprise Funds was "largely due to increased interest rates. That has caused a decrease in revenues that come from those tap fees and permits." He said the council was monitoring the situation.

So, for the Total Enterprise Funds, the spending outpaces the revenues by 141% and no questions are asked by the council at that point? Nor are any citizens allowed to raise the issue? Who is watching out for the taxpayers, who is guarding the henhouse?

We are concerned about the number of items being put on the consent agenda that should be discussed by the council members.

The Current Broomfield Council routinely uses the Consent Agenda to approve contracts, regardless of contract amount.

Broomfield Council approval is required for budget items and contracts where:

All contracts over $200,000
Amendments to contracts that bring the total contract over $200,000

Since January 1 2025: Council approved 12 Contracts on Consent Agenda for a total of $10,430,027 and $4,484,127 in adjustments (increases) to the approved 2025 Annual Budget.

Going forward, we will inform you of consent agenda items that should be moved to the Action Items for discussion and approval, unfortunately, the agenda is not approved until Wednesday before the next meeting. We will either add a section in the newsletter or send you an "Are you Aware" bulletin.

Upcoming City Council Meetings - Please let us know if you plan to attend by registering here.

May 6, 2025

Broomfield Organizational Strategic Plan Workshop - 6:00 p.m.

Broomfield Community Center

280 Spader Way

Lakeshore Room - Lower Level

!! Will not be televised or live streamed !!

In-person event only

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May 8, 2025

Study Session - 6:00 p.m.

Agenda

Concept Review (1)

Study Session (2)

2A. 2026 Budget Planning

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May 13, 2025

Regular Meeting - 6:00 p.m.

Draft Agenda

Meeting Commencement (1)

1A. Pledge of Allegiance

1B. Review and Approval of Agenda

Petitions and Communications (2)

2A. Presentation on the 2025 Broomfield Trail Adventure and Kickoff for the Broomfield 100

2B. Proclamation Public Works Week May 18-24, 2025

2C. Proclamation Elder Abuse Awareness Day and Aging Well Month

2D. Proclamation Mental Health Awareness Month

Councilmember Reports (3)

Public Comment (4)

**Note** Public is allowed to comment on items other than those listed in the current agenda

Reports (5)

5A. Colorado Legislative Update

Consent Items (6)

6A. Minutes for Approval - April 22, 2025 Regular Meeting

6B. Auditorium Lighting Technology Upgrade Construction Agreement

-- Resolution 2025-73

6C. Multi-Year Support Agreement Renewal with Tyler Technologies, Inc.

--Resolution 2025-45

6D. IGA for Peace Officer Behavioral Health Support Grant

--Resolution 2025-82

6E. Amending Broomfield Municipal Code, Titles 16 and 17, Land-Use

-- Ordinance 2252

6F. 2025 Broomfield FlexRide Zero Fare Summer IGA with RTD

-- Resolution 2025-75

6G. I-25 and CO-7 Interim Mobility Hub Pedestrian Railing IGA

-- Resolution 2025-78

6H. Approving a Trash, Rubbish, and Garbage Hauling License for Prime Roll Off Systems

-- Resolution 2025-74

6I. Support DRCOG's Economic Development District and Appointing Robert Smith to Advisory Committee

-- Resolution 2025-79

6J. 2025 Fireworks Display Permit

-- Resolution 2025-80

Action Items (7)

7A. Public Hearing for Amending Parking/Bicycle Code Update - 2nd Reading

-- Ordinance 2268

7B. Amending Chapter 2-60 of the B.M.C. Changing Administrative Organization - 2nd Reading

-- Ordinance 2269

7C. Creation of the Fiscal Leadership on Water Advisory Committee

-- Resolution 2025-85

Mayor and Councilmember Requests for Future Action (8)

8A. Councilmember Ward's Request for Future Action - Removing Drive-Thrus as a permitted use with the City and County of Broomfield

8B. Councilmember Ward's Request for Future Action - Requiring Set-backs for Gas Stations from Residential Sensitive Businesses ( Day-Cares, Hospitals, Medical Offices, etc.)

Adjournment (9)

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May 20, 2025

Study Session - 6:00 p.m.

Draft Agenda

Concept Review (1)

Study Session (2)

2A. Community Survey Results

2B. Energy Code

2C. Wildland Urban Interface - state-mandated code update

2D. Transit Needs Study Update

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