Per the Boulder County Comprehensive Plan, the Public Works Department is unable to undertake large roadway repaving projects within unincorporated Boulder County subdivisions because the cost of this work is the responsibility of subdivision residents. In order to help subdivision residents with the costs associated with repaving a road, the county is offering to help with the formation of a Public Improvement District (PID).
In 2024, the county polled voters on their thoughts on a property tax increase for the purpose of repairing and paving subdivision roads within the unincorporated areas in Boulder County and only 23% of respondents were in favor. According to the polling, regardless of gender and age, voters were unlikely to support this proposal.
What is a Public Improvement District?
A PID is a type of special district that can be formed to finance, construct, and maintain public improvements or provide a public service. With voter approval, a PID can issue debt and impose a property tax mill levy on real and personal property within the district. PIDS can be formed to provide any type of public improvement or service that a county has statutory authority to provide. All revenues generated by the PID must be used only for the intended purpose of the PID.
For the purpose of this PID, the county will share 30% of the material and labor cost of the initial roadway rehabilitation, while residents of the district share the remaining 70%.
The Burgundy Park subdivision in Niwot successfully formed a PID in 2017. Their roads were rehabilitated in the summer of 2019. Learn more about the Burgundy Park effort.
Starting a PID to Fund Subdivision Roadway Reconstruction
Residents of subdivisions start by joining with their neighbors and that Boulder County Public Works (PW) conduct an assessment of their roads for the purpose of forming a PID that will fund rehabilitation. A PID can be formed by individuals or by a Homeowners Association.
PW will work with the requesters to determine the roads and create a map of the proposed district. After roads are established, PW will prepare a preliminary cost estimate of the overall project, which will include, but will not be limited to:
- Reconstruction
- Mill and overlay approximately every 20 years
- Chip seal work approximately every 7 years
- The preliminary mill levy
After presenting this information to the subdivision representatives seeking to form a PID, residents will either agree or disagree to move forward. Groups seeking to move forward will provide PW with a formal letter requesting to proceed with PID formation.
Upon acceptance of the letter, PW will:
- Obtain a geotechnical report, if not already available, for recommended roadway rehabilitation options
- Refine the cost estimate based on the geotechnical report
- Determine the best option for construction and present it to residents for review and potential acceptance
If residents and the county agree to move forward, PW will prepare a budget for Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) review for the following year’s implementation. With BOCC approval:
- PW will provide a petition form for neighborhood circulation for formal petition to the BOCC to place the formation and taxation issue on the November ballot.
- Petition must be completed by the end of June to be included in the upcoming November ballot
- Petition must be signed by 30% or 200 registered voters in the proposed district to move to ballot
- Completed petition presented to the BOCC for approval
- Treasurer, Assessor, County Attorney, Clerk & Recorder, and Office of Financial Management office representatives will also review petition
- If accepted, BOCC sets ballot titles preceding election
- November Election to form district and tax property owners
- If vote passes, tax assessments start at the beginning of the next calendar year
- PW prepares construction documents (i.e., plans and specifications) for work to be completed the year following the election
Tips For Forming a PID
- Start the PID formation process by the end of April to ensure time for circulating the petition and allow PW time to complete their work items in order to make the November election ballot.
- Ballot is finalized at the end of August
- Try to get 70% of registered voters in district to sign the petition to give it a better chance of passing in November
- Form a subdivision committee to represent the community and to make decisions, circulate the petition, and work with PW
- Present the annual evaluation and audit by the Assessor’s and Treasurer’s office to the subdivision for transparency
- Allow PW to review the evaluation and audit to ensure available funds are correct
The entire process starts with your subdivision agreeing that this may be an option for rebuilding your community’s roads. Once you have a group ready, reach out to Public Works to start the process.
For more information, contact Andrew Barth via email or call 303-441-1032.