Broomfield council delays Flatiron district budget vote over proposed tax increase

Broomfield City Council voted 9-0 on Oct. 27 to delay action on the Flatiron Improvement District’s 2027 budget and work plan, seeking more review of a proposed sales-tax increase and the district’s outreach to local businesses. The council set a Dec. 5 deadline to revisit the plan but did not schedule a return date, the meeting recording shows.

The proposal would raise the district’s sales-tax rate from 0.01% to 0.2% starting April 1, 2027. Broomfield’s current sales-tax table lists the district rate as 0.01%. A staff memo in the council packet projects $723,177 in district sales-tax revenue for 2027 under the proposal. The memo says district voters approved a sales tax of up to 0.2% in 2000, so the increase would not require another election.

Council members questioned whether the district had adequately informed businesses about the increase. Mayor Pro Tem Lim cited earlier district board minutes describing a proposal to send information letters to businesses; she said board members had questioned whether letters were needed and noted low participation at prior town halls. Finance Director Clark said city staff could not speak for the district board’s outreach decisions. Councilmember Ward urged the council to specify what it wanted before the district returns, such as a set number of town halls or another clear engagement plan.

The city’s description of the district says Broomfield contributes an amount equal to 25% of district tax collections, less the cost of the EcoPass program. At the meeting, the city attorney said staff had not found an agreement establishing whether a contribution is required. The attorney said the city had contributed in the past, while the district’s proposed budget does not rely on a city contribution, leaving any 2027 payment unconfirmed.

The city attorney said the district could return with the same budget and work plan or reconsider its approach to business engagement. The council could also approve the plan with an outreach condition; the tabling motion did not require the district to make changes before the next review.