CPNMD Directors Voice Support for City Ballot Measure

On October 11th 2023, CPNMD's board of directors unanimously passed a resolution supporting a "YES" vote regarding  the City of Castle Pines November 7th, 2023 ballot measure 2F.  Authorizing an ad valorem property tax of 12 mills for Park, Recreation, Trail, and Open Space improvements and maintenance. Click the link below to download the resolution in it's entirety.   For additional information or questions, please contact the City of Castle Pines at 303-705-0227
 

You have questions... we have answers. Keep reading for responses to the most frequently asked questions regarding CPNMD and this measure...

Why does the CPNMD Board support this measure?

For specific details related to this question, dowload and read the resolution!

This is the penultimate step in finalizing the transfer of parks trails and open space responsibilities to the City of Castle Pines. There are numerous potential community-wide benefits. This measure further reduces the footprint of local governmental agencies, will sharpen the direction of CPNMD, allowing us to focus on our core responsibilities of providing Water and Wastewater services to our community, paves the way for a city-wide increased level of service, allows for more effective and collaborative parks planning, and creates the potential to more efficiently use funds by combining maintenance and service contracts. 
 

How does this affect CPNMD?

If passed the City of Castle Pines would gain a new mill levy authorization of 12mils, for parks, rec, and open space.

CPNMD currently has a mill levy authorization of 19mills, and  is operating under a temporary voluntary reduction at 15.790 mills.

If the city ballot question passes, CPNMD would be required via an IGA with the City of Castle Pines to do a permanent authorization reduction to 7 mills. Following the permanent reduction to 7 mills. CPNMD would, on an annual basis, be required to impose a voluntary reduction. 

Although various factors will impact the exact number of mills collected, CPNMD would voluntarily, temporarily reduce our mill levy authorization to somewhere around 2-3mils. A similar reduction would be required on an annual basis to avoid any potential TABOR violations. No more than 10% of the revenue received by an enterprise fund (in our case Water and Wastewater) can come from public tax dollars.
 

Why maintain the 7 mill authorization, if we are legally unable to collect the full amount?

It is important to maintain an authorization of 7mils because it could likely prove to be a vital component of a potential future inclusion (Parker Water, for example, would have required us to match approximately 6.8mills to facilitate the inclusion).
 

How would CPNMD utilize the funds from the reduced mill levy? 

The functional use of these funds does not change. A portion of the mill levy collected has always helped pay for administrative functions across all of our funds ( Historically: Water, Wastewater, Parks, & Storm). These funds would continue to maintain the Water and Wastewater functions, as they always have. The largest change is more of an accounting function, than anything else.  Funds from the mill levy would be directly accounted for in the Water and Wastewater Enterprise Funds, instead of the General Fund. If the measure passes, CPNMD would ultimately eliminate our General Fund. 

November 7th is just around the corner, don't miss an opportunity to make your voice heard, get out and vote!