About
What is a Metropolitan District?
A metropolitan district is a quasi-municipal corporation and political subdivision established under the Special District Act (Title 32, Article 1, Colorado Revised Statutes). These local governments are formed to finance, construct, and sometimes operate public infrastructure and provide services that counties and municipalities may be unable to provide due to fiscal constraints, such as those imposed by the Taxpayer's Bill of Rights (TABOR). Once formed, metropolitan districts must adhere to their governing documents and various laws that govern their operations. These documents and laws address the district’s taxing authority, ability to impose and collect fees and other charges, describe infrastructure and services to be provided by the district, and contain requirements for transparency and accountability.
Special districts possess taxing authority and can issue tax-exempt bonds to finance infrastructure projects. Property owners within the district are subject to property taxes (mills) levied by the district to repay these bonds. This structure localizes the cost of public improvements to the specific development, rather than distributing expenses across the entire county or municipality. As local governments, metropolitan districts can borrow money at lower interest rates, allowing them to finance public infrastructure more efficiently and affordably to the benefit of future district residents.
Metropolitan districts are formed by submitting a detailed service plan to the city council, town board of trustees, or county commissioners for review and approval following publicly noticed and conducted hearings. These local authorities have oversight and control over limits on taxation, fees, and services. Organizing elections are also conducted.
Metropolitan districts are operated by an elected Board of Directors. Director elections are held in May of every odd year. Initially, developer representatives may sit on the Board of Directors because the district is formed before there are any homes or homeowners. Over time, residents who are eligible electors can run for board seats, allowing residents to participate in governance of their community.
For additional information about metropolitan districts please visit Metro District Education Coalition.
Services Provided by the Districts
Street Improvements, Safety Improvements, Water Improvements, Sanitation Improvements, Park and Rec Improvements
Amount of Debt the Districts Can Incur
CPVMD
General Obligation Bonds: Voters originally approved up to $56,750,000 in general obligation debt. Of that, $24,500,000 has already been issued. The remaining voter-approved authorization is $32,250,000.
Street and Roadway Improvements: $41,920,000 was originally authorized. Of that, $18,569,477 has already been issued. The remaining voter-approved authorization is $23,350,523.
Additional Parking Facility Debt: The District plans to use a nonprofit entity (a 63-20 corporation) to issue up to $350 million in debt to finance parking facilities. This is separate from the voter-approved general obligation bonds and does not require additional voter approval.
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The District has no power to issue any debt and no authority to impose a mill levy upon any property within or without its boundaries, regardless of whether such mill levy is for debt service or operations and maintenance purposes.
Revenue to Repay the Districts' Debt
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General Obligation Bonds: These are repaid through property taxes. The District is limited to a maximum mill levy of 50 mills, unless the bonds are credit-enhanced or meet other exceptions under Colorado law.
Parking Facility Debt (via Corporation): This will be repaid using revenues generated by the parking facilities themselves. It may also be backed by other sources like investment earnings or mortgages on the facilities. The District will not use general tax revenues to repay this debt unless specifically structured to do so.
CPVCMD
The District has no debt authorization to issue any bonds or other financial obligations to finance any construction or installation of improvements, as such tasks shall be undertaken by other appropriate governmental or private entities, such as Central Platte Valley Metropolitan District.
Maximum Mill Levy to Repay the Districts' Debt
CPVMD
50 mills
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The District has no power to impose a mill levy upon any property located within or without its boundaries, whether for debt service or operations and maintenance purposes. The District may not impose either a debt or operations and maintenance mill levy without a material modification of the Service Plan.
How to Become a Board Member
Regular special district elections are elections held for the purpose of electing eligible electors to the Board of Directors of the special district. Elections are held biennially on the first Tuesday after the first Monday of May in odd-numbered years. C.R.S. 1-13.5-111(1). A regular election may include the submission of questions to the eligible electors or any ballot issue required under TABOR. A canceled election counts as having conducted an election; the directors are elected by acclamation.
Special elections may occur in February, May (even years), October, November, and December. An election question may be asked at any election. A TABOR ballot question may only be asked at a regular special district election date, the general election date, or the first Tuesday in November of odd numbered years.
Directors typically serve staggered 4-year terms. For special districts with five Board members, two directors serve until the next regular election after the district organization and three directors serve until the second regular election after organization. Term limits apply to special district Board members. The voters of any political subdivision may lengthen, shorten or eliminate the term limits. Art. XVIII, Sec. 11 Colorado Constitution.
An eligible elector is an individual who is registered to vote in Colorado and is a resident of the special district (regardless of property ownership) OR an owner, or the spouse or civil union partner of an owner, of taxable real or personal property situated in the district. A partnership, corporation, or trust cannot register to vote, is not a "person" in the context of voter registration and therefore is not an eligible elector. CRS 32-1-103(5).
Under certain circumstances, a person may qualify as an eligible elector if the person is obligated to pay taxes under a contract to purchase taxable property within the boundaries of the special district. Such individual is considered an owner of property for purposes of eligible elector status. CRS 32-1-103(5).
A special district candidate must complete a self-nomination form, which form is due 67 days prior to the regular election date. No earlier than January 1 and no later than the normal close of business on the 67th day before the date of a regular special district election, any person who desires to be a candidate for the office of a special district director shall file a self-nomination and acceptance form or letter signed by the candidate and the candidate’s signature/form must be witnessed by an eligible elector of the state. An amended self-nomination form or letter may be accepted by the Designated Election Official up to the normal close of business on the 67th day before an election. C.R.S. 1-13.5-303.
Alternatively, a special district candidate may complete a write-in affidavit, which affidavit is due 64 days prior to the regular election date.
All candidates must comply with the Fair Campaign Practices Act (FCPA) and Amendment 27 of the Colorado Constitution. Information on campaign finance laws and regulations may be obtained from the website of the Colorado Secretary of State.
Under the election laws, the board of directors of the special district is charged with appointing a Designated Election Official (DEO) who oversees the election. C.R.S. 1-13.5-103(2), C.R.S. 1-13.5-108(1).
If the number of candidates is equal to or less than the number of seats available, the election may be canceled, and the candidates are elected by acclamation. The election may be canceled at any point in time after the 63rd day before the election. C.R.S. 13-5-513(1). However, if the electors are to consider the election of directors and ballot issues or ballot questions, the election may only be canceled if those ballot issues or questions have been withdrawn. No election may be canceled in part. C.R.S. 1-13.5-513(3),(4).
Additional information regarding special district elections can be found on the Department of Local Affairs (DOLA) Special District Elections website.
Contact Us
The following systems are in place for contacting someone associated with the District.
Regular business hours are 8am-5pm, Monday-Friday. For any after-hours emergencies, such as issues with irrigation, water line breaks, or sanitary sewer emergencies, please contact our after-hours call service at 1-800-215-8299. For general inquiries or other non-emergent issues, please reach out to District management during regular business hours.
All contact methods available on the "Contact Us" page".