What is going on in Broomfield?

Let's review the last 4 years...

Based on City and County of Broomfield financial reports, the period between 2021 and 2025 was marked by contrasting trends: a financially stable and growth-focused outlook in the earlier years that shifted to a more cautious and "fragile" status by 2025. This change was driven by a slowdown in sales and property tax revenues and was accompanied by a significant shift toward prioritizing infrastructure maintenance.

But how can this be? We were so confident four years ago. What happened? Let's look at the revenue, starting with Sales and Use Tax.

After showing strength in the early 2020s, sales tax revenue slowed considerably toward 2025. A 2021 long-range financial update already noted a methodology change to account for growing online sales activity. By June 2025, a statewide report indicated Broomfield saw a 7.5% decline in sales tax revenue between 2023 and 2024, when adjusted for inflation and population.

Hmmm, but what about property tax? Property tax revenue is also projected to decline. Broomfield's economist projected a $6 million reduction between 2025 and 2026.

Okay, surely this is just a set back, right? We have plenty in the bank.

Well... In 2021, we had $122 million. By 2022, there was $457.5 million in the General Fund. The city maintained fund reserves above policy levels and received strong bond ratings. Later, those funds were used for infrastructure, capital improvements, and various programs. By 2023, we had $188.4 million.

So, we spent the money on useful things to improve the City? Yes, but no. A major strategic shift occurred from investing in new capital projects toward maintaining and rehabilitating existing infrastructure. The portion of capital improvement funds dedicated to repair, rehabilitation, and replacement increased significantly, from 36% in 2023 to 61% in 2025. To fund necessary infrastructure projects and keep up with rising costs and regulatory changes, the city approved a significant utility rate increase in late 2024, which went into effect in 2025.

Basically, the City didn't have the money to fund infrastructure projects they really needed. And now, they are scrambling to keep reserves, just to pay their debts. The goal in 2023 was to keep reserves at 16.67% of expenditures. Now, they are trying to make the goal 18%. If your savings each month was only 18%, would you say that you're financially stable? My credit score can be a 780— that doesn't mean I don't have massive debt. And who's left to pay off Broomfield's debt? We are.

Broomfield can't afford to be Broomfield!

So what are we doing about it? Are we reducing spending on other investments to afford infrastructure? NOPE. Council neglected the infrastructure so much that when they did have the money, they continued to ignore the obvious. Instead, their plan is not to cut back on frivolous spending, but to INCREASE YOUR TAXES RATES!

The Broomfield City Council considered placing a sales tax increase on the November 2023 ballot to support city services and address financial stability. They proposed an increase to the sales tax rate from 8.15% to 8.9%. Obviously, Broomfield was not in favor of this and the proposition failed, but they still managed to increase fees for stormwater management, water and sewer use, tap fees, all to try and make up for their poor mismanagement of the budget and ignoring critical infrastructure.

And there's more...

They are increasing development fees, too! That'll make housing more affordable.

As of 2023, all new residential permits are subject to a Services Expansion Fee of $1.00 per finished square foot of dwelling area.

Flat permit fees for specific items like mobile home setups, trailer permits, and demolition were set at $100 as of October 2024.

They are literally trying to make up for their overspending and blatant disregard for infrastructure by increasing any fee they can. Will this help the budget? No. Instead, it's making living more unaffordable, driving away even more residents and business. And then what will be left with? A city, crumbling economically with a huge debt to pay.

STOP THE RECKLESS SPENDING OF CITY COUNCIL NOW!!