Broomfield council clears 15% water-rate increase on first reading; approves bonds to fund water tanks, sewer expansion and police facility

The Broomfield City and County Council on Oct. 14 approved on first reading a proposed ordinance to raise water, wastewater, reclaimed wastewater and stormwater fees — a 15% nonresidential and base residential increase that staff said would add about $16.89 per month to the average single-family household using 9,000 gallons a month. Council also unanimously approved three bond ordinances on first reading to finance two new water storage tanks, a phased expansion of the wastewater facility, and a police and courts building project.

Council finance director Graham Clark introduced the utility-rate proposal as the second year of a five-year plan developed after multi-year forecasting and outside modeling. “The increase, to the single family home this next year would be $16.89 a month,” Clark said during the presentation, using the 9,000-gallon average that staff used for comparisons. Clark and other staff said the five-year approach is intended to move enterprise funds to a sustainable asset-management footing after years of underfunding.

Why it matters: staff said water and sewer enterprise funds have accumulated deferred maintenance and require new capacity, and that capital needs and federal/state regulatory requirements for wastewater make near-term financing necessary. The council’s votes on the rate ordinance and the related bond measures will affect monthly bills, the city’s ability to sell bonds at favorable rates and the timing of construction contracts.

What council approved and what follows: the council voted 7–3 to approve Ordinance No. 2286 on first reading (the ordinance order publishes and the second reading will be at a later meeting). Council approved three bond ordinances on first reading by unanimous votes: Ordinance No. 2288 (water activity enterprise water revenue bonds, series 2026), Ordinance No. 2289 (sewer activity enterprise revenue and refunding bonds, series 2026) and Ordinance No. 2290 (certificate of participation for police and courts financing). Staff said the bonds will be sold in the…