[{"_1":2,"_123":-5,"_124":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87,99,111],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6344560,"mediaKeyId","2250639-f21822891342e36f5fbd05315733472b","parentId",2250639,"title","Broomfield leaders call 2025 “stable but fragile,” push disciplined budgeting and long-range planning","audioSeconds",17105,"startMs",126000,"endMs",17231000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2250639-f21822891342e36f5fbd05315733472b&start=126&end=17231","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2250639-f21822891342e36f5fbd05315733472b/thumbnail_126000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6344560/Broomfield-County/Colorado/Broomfield-leaders-call-2025-stable-but-fragile-push-disciplined-budgeting-and-long-range-planning","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6344560-7923ffed1af3dc20abfe1b513a396a22/orig.mp4?Expires=1771154420&Signature=M681~XozEWZxjXkcJ6jkWFnt8hqZzMe9bK8cRTIAcXbk4gf8eFtR1aELKIi3DIpo2rj7Havx8lu369SPgWIm4ZZzQiE5aukeynews3MK8bok8mEZ1TFC7KC94vgD35xVcNJ5t~leleCqRMiId4O1ZQAJR8Sz2-nAM5dWwM833UEcEnnE44Ue-MnEfoENmLcrxn~gyNJvwH8X1i8hYcuJC4K-aqOh3l3MXdndGQheWY-fT16n-NYQCRt8CHYFCsjtwi7U1dPpRApmFlRregu~bEsloYGNtCB6qjbapo-yDwpFnU4DjY4CKxcSxkQOWDEKpGB2wVmMtQqLVymuWNYfgg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Broomfield County","date","2025-02-08T00:00:00Z","article","BROOMFIELD, Colo. — City and county staff on Saturday told the Broomfield City and County Council that the jurisdiction’s finances are “stable yet fragile,” and urged disciplined, data-driven budgeting for 2025.

City and County Manager Jennifer Hoffman opened the 2025 council focus session by saying the staff and council must balance limited funds against existing obligations. “We are stable yet fragile,” Hoffman said, and she repeated that discipline and reallocation — not new spending — must guide the coming year.

Nut graf: Staff presented a package of short- and medium-term actions to protect the general fund, complete a long-range financial plan update and prepare three planned bond issues. Finance staff reported the city reached a 20% reserve goal early in 2025 but said projected expenditures will modestly outpace revenues in 2025–26 unless departments adjust spending.

Graham Clark, introduced as the finance director, and other staff summarized preliminary, unaudited 2024 results and projections. Clark told council that the general fund ended 2024 in positive position but cautioned that the enterprise fund — which covers water and wastewater services — “is not” currently stable and will require separate attention. Clark said long-range modeling shows modest revenue growth (roughly mid-single-digit) and continued personnel- and inflation-driven expenditure growth (roughly high-single-digit), producing a gradual erosion of fund balance if no steps are taken.

Staff laid out next steps: a focused update of the long-range financial plan in 2025, additional quarterly budget “touch points” with council, and tighter scrutiny of one‑time versus ongoing spending. The plan will explicitly separate governmental (general) and enterprise funds when modeling fiscal outcomes, staff said, to avoid moving money across those distinct fund types.

Staff also flagged near-term debt actions. The council has set aside about $7 million of cash toward a planned police facility; staff expect to issue bonds in 2026 for that project and to pursue separate financings to support enterprise capital projects (water tank and wastewater treatment plant expansions). Staff said the city’s recent bond rating upgrade will reduce borrowing costs when the city sells new bonds.

On technology and operations, staff announced two management initiatives intended to improve fiscal transparency: (1) a planned ERP (enterprise resource planning) procurement and implementation to replace legacy financial systems, with vendor demos starting in March and implementation slated to begin in the fall; and (2) a structured long-range financial plan update that will incorporate 2024 actuals, updated land‑use forecasts and a refreshed set of economic assumptions.

Quotes and context were presented throughout the session. Hoffman emphasized repeatable processes and conservative assumptions. Clark said the city’s budget philosophy for 2026 will focus on reallocation of existing resources rather than adding new programs, and that departments should plan for “limited capacity” to add FTEs in the next cycle.

Ending: Staff scheduled additional study sessions and quarterly updates through the spring and summer so council can review the long-range plan and budget assumptions before the formal 2026 budget process begins. Council and staff repeatedly framed 2025 as a year for outcomefocused discipline rather than new initiatives.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","City Council Focus Sessions - 2025-02-08","oneSentenceSummary","City and county staff on Saturday told the Broomfield City and County Council that the jurisdiction’s finances are “stable yet fragile,” and urged disciplined, data-driven budgeting for 2025.","taxTitle","Broomfield County, Colorado","taxId",9320,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6344541,"Staff frames Flatirons Crossing as primary revenue engine; Center Street and Town Square obligations remain long-term commitments",250,6942000,7192000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2250639-f21822891342e36f5fbd05315733472b&start=6942&end=7192","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2250639-f21822891342e36f5fbd05315733472b/thumbnail_6942000.jpg","/articles/6344541/Broomfield-County/Colorado/Staff-frames-Flatirons-Crossing-as-primary-revenue-engine-Center-Street-and-Town-Square-obligations-remain-long-term-commitments","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6344541-4997864efe706bc6be5aa0dbf6cb83b9/orig.mp4?Expires=1771154420&Signature=XJI7vMQxAqJkzCn9k9kisL35I~mEMy-epyu7TFfw7t1uRok8wmBinmhSvi7wqebhhl3UQQe-1QXQvr0GQJlMuKwc~KHdxHqy6n4MFZINBUZqoD5MAtEwm9E145C0P1fratFi7qXWhqr~rg41I2JR6wyY~q3iPOkmeK7YuzU5iCTcLGYfkWIdoSIhHp6Rd-HddWjv0upPe-DOeePh1zd9cUvd66ue-rKw0XA7bk7PviMaj5k-giQCp7Y~BrUsFEEW6I010mTMtBsNpvY8Qfi76xtDAmfCDAll7TPwJeam0KroGrEHapho7zk~jYHSc4w3UpnX-ZZosWSA6bEPYW-Nag__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","BROOMFIELD, Colo. — At the focus session staff reviewed how large, negotiated development agreements affect long-term revenue and cautioned that converting commercial land to residential development can increase fiscal pressure on city services.

City and County Manager Jennifer Hoffman and other staff said several multi-decade development agreements require the city to share or pass through sales and property tax revenue to project partners; those agreements were negotiated to induce redevelopment but reduce the city’s net revenue share for the life of the agreements.

Nut graf: Staff emphasized that Flatirons Crossing (the mall redevelopment) is the dominant near-term commercial engine and that the revenue-sharing structure and obligations for Center Street and Brookfield Town Square are already in place. Staff said Flatirons’ long-term fiscal contribution makes it a critical revenue source even when other catalytic projects are presented as community amenities.

Staff described the policy trade-offs involved in developer negotiations: catalytic projects such as public space or amenities may not generate net fiscal gains, while projects tied to retained commercial square footage can materially support the general fund. In response to council questions, staff said the Flatirons agreement and other legacy deals reduced the city’s share of revenues for decades and that Flatirons remains the single most important revenue source.

Staff also discussed metro districts’ role in financing infrastructure and reminded council that many residential areas are served by metropolitan districts that carry debt and levies separate from the city’s revenues. Finally, staff noted that agreements come with timelines and that several of the large agreements in the north, center and south of the city run through the 2030s and 2040s, and there are limits on the city’s ability to change those terms absent new negotiations.

Ending: Staff asked council to weigh long-term revenue impacts, not only the immediate community benefits, when evaluating new land-use proposals and redevelopment incentives.","Council heard staff explain that past development agreements move significant shares of tax revenue off the city’s books for decades, and that Flatirons Crossing redevelopment is the most important near-term commercial revenue driver. Staff urged caution about converting commercial land to residential because of fiscal impacts.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6344546,"Council votes unanimously to hold executive session for legal updates, records and procurement training",162,8769000,8931000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2250639-f21822891342e36f5fbd05315733472b&start=8769&end=8931","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2250639-f21822891342e36f5fbd05315733472b/thumbnail_8769000.jpg","/articles/6344546/Broomfield-County/Colorado/Council-votes-unanimously-to-hold-executive-session-for-legal-updates-records-and-procurement-training","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6344546-32b01c52a41149e52bc74a2a10d7254c/orig.mp4?Expires=1771154420&Signature=KWPtspEytuPk8vWtCLUdn7ZAQn-bd8pIpD~0bPI-3jeaV56TUX4KkvcpGJ5AIcYY-RlYRhXGzLuBtmwV1IQ4a0Dgf1v1uWjc15O8eHnBBdqRhB3~drG0TlFSgltgAtJVv9PCuptuCXsArtnnnuneZYmGI2iR9SksfkGIZvJp5Zj0DRoyhmysM2VGdH8JddVXLr8xAhR7ST27ARu2Wfe98mloeTYjSmN9ONc8hc8ET-MqGCmDJvKJQezl2n8D8~tb5~-MO-t0WXD-ZFxKcJYusvWtvaeL1Mkqk5PSbhNJygR5bRMKXlGXoXFW~tZC9mfxL8v4eT3SmXw78sJct0XvPw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","BROOMFIELD, Colo. — During the council’s Saturday focus session, the council voted to meet in executive session for legal training and advice.

Mayor (on the record) moved that the council go into executive session “for the purpose of obtaining legal advice and training updates regarding quasi‑judicial matters, open meeting and records law, procurement policies, and council’s future action process as permitted by CRS 24‑6‑402(4)(b).” Council Member Hinkle seconded. The council took a unanimous voice vote in favor.

Nut graf: The motion invoked the Colorado statute that permits closed‑door legal consultation and training, and council scheduled the session to occur over the lunch hour. No substantive policy decisions were taken in open session at the time of the recorded vote; staff said the session was limited to legal briefing and training.

Ending: The executive session was scheduled to take place during the lunch recess and the public meeting was to resume at 1 p.m.","At the focus session the council voted to enter an executive session for legal advice and training on open meetings/records law, procurement and related procedural matters; the motion carried with a second from Council Member Hinkle and a unanimous voice vote.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6344550,"County economist: Broomfield economy steady but global tariffs and trade slowdowns are risks",251,2235000,2486000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2250639-f21822891342e36f5fbd05315733472b&start=2235&end=2486","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2250639-f21822891342e36f5fbd05315733472b/thumbnail_2235000.jpg","/articles/6344550/Broomfield-County/Colorado/County-economist-Broomfield-economy-steady-but-global-tariffs-and-trade-slowdowns-are-risks","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6344550-e27cc14be276f10e95d0f5d9e624f718/orig.mp4?Expires=1771154420&Signature=GTdp0QjSWe84U~ySH5WNSy1KufhUEgv61NdNS~KXFIODupPne3idi2LVivGYjYgMyKI64tlw~~ErNTBpJ6h8rYw39K4KlE7aJi~yGEZRHKJlY43vexuCu1FflWLl7SNwysLST2PDNdXcIo9fhuSqEHMD-jn5v6JyUbhevnirY8GEeWqTfEc3Ru1qX56iNi9mD5fhZR8iZr1JVgg-Hyn7~BGFJNtMwwga5AwXt8QCY17Jg6at8HqUMo8hVwq6IDz8U9iJ5Y9D3Nf4njR8n3lxvxz9skpYbr0f7OPX8cLc-8-5NEL5Uk5Jlse8MvxGi6WuUHe7-HNgr4RuWhsDS6aPcQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","BROOMFIELD, Colo. — The city’s economic overview at Saturday’s focus session stressed that Broomfield’s economy remains generally strong while international and national policy risks could slow growth.

Jeff Romine, the city economist, told the council the community’s population as of July 2023 was “just short of 77,000 persons” and said local employment and wage figures remain favorable: the city’s unemployment rate is near 4.4% and the metro inflation rate cited for Broomfield was about 2.3%.

Nut graf: Romine said the local economy benefits from a diversified employment base — professional and tech services, management and manufacturing — but that trade policy, tariffs and weaker growth among trading partners are a material downside risk. He noted that producer price inflation outpacing consumer prices can foreshadow higher inflation later.

Romine walked council through sector-level detail: Broomfield’s average annual wages exceeded $109,000 for the fourth quarter of 2024, and the local employment base includes firms that continue to require on-site work (BAE Systems, among others) as well as more hybrid arrangements. He said he expects consumer behavior and workplace patterns (hybrid and remote work) to continue to affect commercial demand and collections for the city.

On trade and tariffs, Romine warned that higher tariffs tend to dampen GDP and disrupt parts and material supply chains; he noted recent tariff actions and said economists generally expect some tariffs to be introduced, creating uncertainty over the next 6–12 months.

Ending: Romine told council he will continue to monitor national and state fiscal decisions for their local impacts and suggested staff provide regular briefings so council can consider external economic risks when making policy and budget decisions.","City economist Jeff Romine gave a broad economic update to the council, highlighting steady local indicators—low unemployment and modest inflation—while warning that tariffs and slower global growth could dampen future GDP and supply chains.",{"_33":112,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":113,"_41":114,"_43":115,"_45":116,"_47":117,"_49":118,"_51":119,"_53":120,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":121,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":122,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6344555,"Broomfield reports 6,000-unit housing pipeline; inclusionary rules producing units but housing fund may run low",541,2885000,3426000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2250639-f21822891342e36f5fbd05315733472b&start=2885&end=3426","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2250639-f21822891342e36f5fbd05315733472b/thumbnail_2885000.jpg","/articles/6344555/Broomfield-County/Colorado/Broomfield-reports-6000-unit-housing-pipeline-inclusionary-rules-producing-units-but-housing-fund-may-run-low","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6344555-a0f3a7e6337f08f6f1b2eedb1354d0d9/orig.mp4?Expires=1771154420&Signature=BgFe4eE5VswtWaa-eMtEVd-Vf2U306nPKHiZbQVqGjYbm3iJU3tFr-ciiwyfcJmp4eir7T4B8Fr7V04yqsxFmPXCKi6OPdSgZ9rCAGbgIR95baNXn6kFpkjpf5qKa8t8j6gbRTGt5A8lO8uo2cR6iT2Q2Xi3inKV6qissNro4VwW0e8V-~ZW7iwZXRArfJFyTPudO3TJcPOlOnpSn~QuleIDjvr3W2WAGQfRc~g~IEkruLqbj0f7EYueclHQsac4WNny2yKTc2UTlueqPgRiOMIGmMEs6oKkWUCdO19jsQJ3TQkNdCbmmEBhXMoDcYnhfloHVM3E-r4io1p0Yt~1BA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","BROOMFIELD, Colo. — City planning and housing staff on Saturday briefed the City and County Council on the near-term housing pipeline, inclusionary housing outcomes and a looming shortfall in the local Housing Development Fund.

Annifer (Anna) Casetti, deputy city and county manager for development, told council that roughly 6,000 residential units are at various stages of planning review or approval in Broomfield. “We have 6,000 residential units in the pipeline for development,” Casetti said, and she added most are already zoning- or site-plan approved, with developers waiting for market or financing conditions before building.

Nut graf: Staff said the pipeline will expand the community’s housing stock but warned it will increase service demands. Casetti and planning staff said the city’s inclusionary housing ordinance has successfully produced hundreds of attainable units within market-rate projects — staff estimate about 1,200 inclusionary units among the 6,000 pipeline total — but that success has reduced cash-in-lieu revenues into the Housing Development Fund, which the city uses for gap financing and housing programs.

Casetti and planning staff walked council through major projects in the queue, including phases at Flatirons Crossing and a series of large multifamily proposals clustered in 2026–2028. Staff estimated that of the approximately 6,000 units, about 1,200 are likely to be delivered as inclusionary or otherwise “attainable” units because developers are choosing to build the required affordable units rather than pay cash-in-lieu.

That outcome, staff said, is positive for housing availability but has a fiscal trade-off: cash paid into the Housing Development Fund previously funded gap financing and programs run by the local housing authority and nonprofits. Planning staff reported the housing fund is at risk of near-term depletion if cash-in-lieu revenues do not return; staff asked council to anticipate requests for continued program support and for gap financing on projects that rely on local subsidies.

Staff also described the Ulysses project, which was approved with a package of local and state support. Staff said the city is passing a state grant through to a project partner; in the meeting staff explained the state awarded $2 million to the city and the city is providing an additional $2 million, for a combined $4 million subsidy structure. Staff clarified that the state grant is a pass-through to the project and that city obligations are contingent on grant conditions and project performance.

Ending: Staff asked council to consider the approaching exhaustion of the Housing Development Fund when reviewing the 2026 budget and said housing gap-financing requests could require new funding sources if developers continue to build inclusionary units in place of paying cash-in-lieu.","Deputy managers and planning staff said roughly 6,000 residential units are in the city’s development pipeline, including about 1,200 estimated inclusionary/attainable units. Staff warned the Housing Development Fund is not receiving expected cash‑in‑lieu revenue and could be depleted without new funding sources.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Broomfield leaders call 2025 “stable but fragile,” push disciplined budgeting and long-range planning

Staff frames Flatirons Crossing as primary revenue engine; Center Street and Town Square obligations remain long-term commitments

Council votes unanimously to hold executive session for legal updates, records and procurement training

County economist: Broomfield economy steady but global tariffs and trade slowdowns are risks

Broomfield reports 6,000-unit housing pipeline; inclusionary rules producing units but housing fund may run low