The Boulder City Open Space Board of Trustees convened on April 13, 2025, to discuss critical budgetary strategies and long-term financial planning for the city’s open space and management programs. The meeting, which lasted over two hours, included presentations from city finance officials and discussions on future funding mechanisms.

The session began with a review of the project scope and outcomes, where board members expressed appreciation for the thorough analysis of short-term, medium-term, and long-term strategies for managing open space lands. The board emphasized the importance of community engagement and communication regarding ongoing actions and decisions, particularly in response to public concerns about urgency in addressing open space management issues.

Charlotte Heskey, the city’s budget officer, presented an overview of the long-term financial strategy, highlighting the need for a comprehensive approach to fiscal decision-making. She noted that the city is facing challenges due to limited ongoing revenues, particularly from sales and use taxes, which have shown slowing growth. Additionally, recent state legislation has impacted property tax revenues, necessitating a reevaluation of the city’s financial forecasts.

Heskey outlined the city’s strategy to diversify revenue sources and reduce reliance on sales tax. This includes exploring alternative funding mechanisms such as new taxes, fees, and public-private partnerships. The board discussed two potential tax ballot measures for 2025: an extension of the existing Community Culture Resilience and Safety (CCRS) sales tax and the introduction of a public realm tax aimed at enhancing funding for parks and open spaces.

The public realm tax proposal would increase the existing property tax rate and expand its application to cover a broader range of public infrastructure projects, including parks, sidewalks, and bike lanes. The board acknowledged the importance of flexibility in funding allocation to address various community needs effectively.

As part of the long-term financial strategy, the board plans to engage the community through a series of discussions and surveys to gather input on service level priorities and potential tax measures. These efforts aim to ensure that the city’s budget aligns with community expectations and addresses the backlog of unfunded needs, which is currently estimated at $380 million.

The meeting concluded with a commitment to ongoing dialogue and transparency with the public regarding the city’s financial strategies and open space management priorities. The board will continue to refine its approach as it prepares for upcoming community engagement sessions and the development of the 2026 budget.