The Boulder City Open Space Board of Trustees meeting on April 13, 2025, focused on the development of the 2026 budget and the long-term financial strategy for the city. Key discussions revolved around the anticipated challenges in revenue generation and the potential introduction of new tax measures to address funding gaps.

City officials highlighted concerns regarding limited ongoing revenues, primarily due to a slowdown in sales and use tax growth and recent state legislation affecting property tax revenues. These factors have prompted a downward revision of revenue forecasts for the upcoming budget. The city is also grappling with federal uncertainties, including potential changes in tax policy and tariffs, which could impact operating and capital costs.

A significant part of the meeting was dedicated to discussing a long-term financial strategy aimed at enhancing the city's fiscal health. This strategy includes a focus on diversifying revenue sources to reduce reliance on sales and use tax, which has proven unstable, particularly during the pandemic. The city plans to explore alternative funding mechanisms, including potential new taxes and fees, to support core services and address a backlog of unfunded needs estimated at $380 million.

Two potential tax measures were proposed for consideration in 2025. The first involves extending the existing Community Culture Resilience and Safety (CCRS) sales tax to support city infrastructure and nonprofit organizations. The second measure proposes increasing the public realm property tax to fund parks, open spaces, and public infrastructure projects. This increase would expand the use of the tax beyond its current scope, allowing for greater flexibility in funding various community needs.

The city is committed to engaging the community in discussions about these financial strategies and potential tax measures. A series of public engagement sessions are planned for the summer and fall, aimed at gathering input on service level priorities and educating residents about the city's financial constraints.

Overall, the meeting underscored the city's proactive approach to addressing financial challenges while seeking to maintain and enhance services for the community. The upcoming months will be crucial as Boulder City navigates its budget development process and seeks community feedback on its financial future.