Housing poll falls short of threshold; council approves two-year support for Broomfield Housing Alliance and related housing grants

A community poll commissioned by the Broomfield Housing Stability Task Force found support for the task force’s proposed 0.5% sales tax and a 1% construction excise tax was below customary referral thresholds, and city council later approved two years of operating support for the local housing authority and related funding actions.

The poll, conducted April 29–May 6 of 757 registered Broomfield voters with a reported margin of error of ±3.54 percentage points, found 34% of respondents initially said they would approve a 0.5% sales tax to fund rehousing, stabilization and unit creation; that number rose to 39% after respondents read additional, explanatory messages. The construction-excise-tax question received 40% support and 51% opposition, with somewhat higher support when respondents were told the tax would not affect residential construction or remodeling.

Martin Dormish, a Ward 1 resident and member of the Broomfield Housing Stability Task Force, told council the task force will not seek referral to the 2025 ballot after the poll results. “We will not be asking the council to refer our proposed measures to this fall’s ballot,” Dormish said, and said the task force plans further community education and a longer-term strategy that could include different revenue mechanisms or other approaches.

Courtney Sievers of Magellan Strategies, the firm that conducted the survey, said age and tenure in Broomfield were the strongest predictors of support: younger voters and residents of fewer years were generally more likely to favor new housing revenue. “The details matter,” Sievers said, noting that respondents were more likely to back a specific, project-based ask than broad, citywide tax increases.

Public comment at the meeting reflected divided views. Dan McCauley, executive director of Flatirons Habitat for Humanity, said local wages make homeownership out of reach for many: “The income needed to purchase a median-priced Broomfield County home is $143,080. An average teacher in Broomfield County earns just under $33,000,” he said. Several residents and nonprofit representatives urged more support for essential workers, seniors and families facing housing instability; other speakers opposed new taxes and emphasized market-based solutions.

Council considered several housing-related items that evening. After presentations and questions, council voted unanimously, 8–0, to approve an amended and restated intergovernmental agreement (IGA) with the Broomfield Housing Alliance (BHA) that authorizes up to $500,000 per year in 2026 and 2027 from the housing development fund, subject to each year’s budget process. Sharon Tessier, Broomfield’s housing policy manager, summarized the request as operational support while BHA continues to pursue predevelopment and financing to build a portfolio of income-aligned homes.

Kristen Heizer, executive director of BHA, said the authority has used earlier seed funding to leverage state, federal and private capital, and described BHA’s activity to date: acquisition of land, expanding locally available housing vouchers, and predevelopment for projects including The Grove at Cottonwood and planned senior housing on Coleman’s Way. “We have a shortage of 1,500 units that are affordable to households earning $52,000 or less,” Heizer said. “That is just a drop in the bucket.”

Council also approved two separate items tied to housing finance and federal allocations. By unanimous vote the council approved a one-time grant of $37,298.56 to Flatirons Habitat for Humanity to cover a property tax bill that unexpectedly became payable when Habitat sold a parcel in 2022 under terms that accidentally voided an earlier tax exemption. Executive Director McCauley said the organization borrowed the amount on a short note to allow a development to proceed and requested the city’s reimbursement so Habitat could redeploy its funds into housing work.

Finally, council approved Broomfield’s 2025–2029 consolidated plan and the 2025 annual action plan for federal HOME and Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds. Staff said Broomfield’s expected HOME allocation for the year is about $110,000 and CDBG about $284,000; council approved using HOME funds for tenant-based rental assistance and CDBG funds for home-rehabilitation and senior-focused “paint-a-thon” programs and small-business microgrants, consistent with HUD rules and the regional consortium plan.

What happened next

Council members and staff emphasized the poll’s role as an information baseline, not a final policy decision. Dormish and other presenters said the task force will continue community engagement and explore alternatives including targeted fees, budget reallocations, philanthropic fundraising and potentially a revised ballot approach in future elections. BHA and city staff said they will return to council with progress reports and any requests for project-specific funding.

Votes at a glance

- Resolution 2025–87: Amended and restated IGA between the city and county of Broomfield and the Broomfield Housing Alliance; authorized staff to include a 2026–27 funding request up to $500,000 per year (subject to each year’s budget); passed 8–0. - Resolution 2025–81: One-time grant to Flatirons Habitat for Humanity, $37,298.56, to reimburse a tax bill arising from a 2022 property sale; passed 8–0. - Resolution 2025–67: 2025–2029 consolidated plan and 2025 action plan for HOME and CDBG funds; passed 7–0 (Councilmember Anderson absent).

Why it matters

Local development and nonprofit partners told council that Broomfield faces both a shortage of units affordable to lower- and middle-income households and a service-delivery gap for residents needing rental assistance, stabilization and rehousing services. Council’s near-term funding decisions extend operating support to BHA while staff, the task force and nonprofits continue outreach and project development work to leverage outside capital and pursue longer-term solutions.

Looking ahead

Task force leaders said they will use the poll as a baseline for broader public education and return with refined proposals. BHA said it will continue predevelopment work on projects expected to create hundreds of income-aligned homes and will provide updates to council in the third quarter of each year.