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Broomfield extends utility and property tax relief programs for 2026
Summary
Council voted to continue two local assistance programs — the Utility Rate Assistance Fund (URAF) and the Partial Property Tax Refund (PPTR) — authorizing program parameters and modest budget adjustments intended to focus assistance on lower‑income households.
BROOMFIELD — City Council voted to continue two local assistance programs aimed at lowering utility and property tax burdens for qualifying residents and to modestly increase the PPTR budget for 2026.
Housing Programs Manager Lisa Sacker summarized program performance. PPTR (Partial Property Tax Refund) was adopted in 2023 to assist seniors 65+, veterans and disabled homeowners; staff reported the program served more than 963 households in 2025 and exhausted the $500,000 budget for that year. Staff recommended maintaining eligibility (0–80% AMI) and increasing the 2026 PPTR budget to $600,000 to match demonstrated demand.
URAF (Utility Rate Assistance Fund) refunded or credited more than 1,400 households in 2025; staff proposed lowering the eligibility threshold from 100% AMI to 60% AMI so that limited funds concentrate on households with highest demonstrated need. Staff recommended keeping assistance levels at $20/month (single family), $18/month (duplex/townhome/mobile home), and $17/month (apartments/condos), with a $240 per‑year maximum.
Council action
- Resolution 2025‑153 continuing the URAF program (passed 9–0). - Resolution 2025‑154 continuing the PPTR program and approving a $600,000 budget for 2026 (passed 9–0).
Why staff recommended changes
Sacker said delivery and outreach are operationally stable and that 74% of URAF applicants in 2025 had incomes at or below 60% AMI, so refocusing the program would target the majority of demonstrated need while allowing a reduced overall URAF budget. She also described outreach challenges for mobile home park and multifamily residents and a plan to work with partners and schools to improve enrollment.
Public comment
A resident (Natalia Mahoney) spoke in support of continuing and expanding the programs, noting increased cost‑of‑living pressure and paused SNAP benefits as reasons to retain local safety nets.
Next steps
Housing staff will continue quarterly payouts for URAF, retain the core eligibility and delivery model for PPTR, and collaborate with communications and nonprofit partners to improve outreach for hard‑to‑reach households.
