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Sales‑tax oversight board tells Littleton council projects are 'in compliance' but urges tighter monitoring of soft costs
Summary
The Capital Improvement Sales Tax Board told Littleton City Council its review shows compliance with ballot language but recommended continued monitoring of personnel/soft costs, a one‑page project snapshot for transparency and adding an environmental board member to the review process.
The Littleton Capital Improvement Sales Tax Board presented its annual report to the City Council, saying staff expenditures of the capital sales tax fund are generally in compliance with the ballot language authorizing the tax but offering recommendations to strengthen public oversight.
John Jones, the board chair, told council the board reviewed spending, matched projects to ballot language and recommended two operational changes: benchmark soft costs (project‑management and strategic planning fees) against peer cities and prioritize 'brick‑and‑mortar' projects that produce visible community benefits. Jones said staff project‑management costs ran around 12–13% and the board recommends the city continue to assess that percentage relative to comparable communities.
Budget Manager Kevin Orton and Public Works Director Brant Soderlund joined Jones to summarize the board’s findings. Soderlund said the city actively manages project sequencing (for example timing pavement work around utility replacements) and that staff seeks to keep the share of personnel/management expense reasonable while delivering projects on schedule. The board also urged staff to finalize a one‑page public snapshot of capital projects to improve transparency and to consider adding an Environmental Stewardship Board representative to future reviews.
Council thanked the board for its oversight; members asked follow‑up questions about how the city measures project‑management costs and about timing for the one‑page snapshot. Staff said they expect to deliver a concise project snapshot by next year and will benchmark personnel costs against peer cities.
The board’s presentation came at the start of a special meeting that also featured the council vote on the First Street Farms partnership and a large public turnout. The Capital Improvement Sales Tax Board’s minutes and a staff memo are available through the city manager's office.
