Tax dollars will support critical infrastructure and capital improvement projects through 2036

On Election Day, City of Boulder voters overwhelmingly approved a 15-year extension of the Community, Culture, Resilience and Safety Tax (CCRS). The extension is expected to generate about $11.5 million annually to finance projects that support community safety and well-being and provide funding to several community nonprofits.

Key focus areas for the funding include maintaining and modernizing Boulder's transportation system to allow for safer and more efficient flow for all modes of transportation; making progress toward climate goals; maintaining and replacing infrastructure that supports first responders; updating facilities to provide opportunities for community members to recreate and maintain healthy and active lifestyle; and optimizing the city’s data and outreach tools for more transparent, accessible and user-friendly service. Additionally, the extension will provide up to 10% of the revenue to fund grants for nonprofit organizations that serve the people of Boulder.

Specific city projects already identified for the funding include:

  • Maintaining and improving roads and multi-modal paths
  • Replacing critically deteriorated signal poles
  • Replacing the Central Avenue bridge
  • Improving the Boulder Creek Path corridor
  • Implementing the Boulder Civic Area Phase 2/Central Park improvements
  • Completing Fire Station 3 construction and relocating or reconstructing Fire Station 2 or Fire Station 4
  • Purchasing emergency vehicles for Boulder Fire-Rescue to provide advanced life support
  • Renovations at East Boulder Community Center
  • Acquiring streetlight systems and converting to LED lights
  • Refreshing the Pearl Street Mall

“Infrastructure and capital improvement projects are essential to keep Boulder running and provide vital services to the community,” said City Manager Nuria Rivera-Vandermyde. “A 15-year extension of this tax enables us to plan ahead for work that will both support the Boulder community and incorporate the city’s sustainability and resilience goals. I’d like to extend my thanks to the voters of Boulder who demonstrated their dedication to their community by participating in this election.”

Voters also approved a related measure to authorize the city to issue an up to $110 million bond to help expedite funding for larger capital projects to be funded with the CCRS tax revenues.

As a next step, staff teams will take steps to identify and propose initial projects in the key focus areas for funding, develop the non-profit grant program and incorporate the funding plan into the city’s budget process. As has been past practice, an ordinance to appropriate the CCRS tax revenue for specific uses in 2022 will be brought to City Council for consideration in February.

The Community, Culture and Safety Tax, as CCRS was formerly known, was originally approved in 2014 and extended in 2017 for four years. Revenue from the tax has funded dozens of city infrastructure projects and nonprofit projects throughout the city, including renovations to the Boulder Creek corridor, the renovated Scott Carpenter Pool, the new North Boulder Library and matching grants to area nonprofits for facility construction and renovations, including the Museum of Boulder, the Dairy Center for Arts, Growing Gardens and Meals on Wheels.

Since the tax and bond measure are extensions, and not new initiatives, city sales tax rates will not increase with the approval. The cost of a 0.3% sales tax on a $100 purchase is 30 cents.

Learn more on the city's website. For the most up-to-date results, visit Boulder County Elections.

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