Major changes needed for Metropolitan Districts in Colorado
This week the Denver Post ran a series of articles about the abuses and lack of transparency for unelected Metropolitan Districts that can tax people and condemn existing homes to pursue profits. One such district near Loveland raised taxes on individual houses from $800 to $3500. Districts can also take a cut if you sell your home. Some of that money is supposed to go to a fund to benefit the residents of the district but it's doubtful if they are getting the money. Can you say "sharecropper?"
These districts have been around since 1940 but changes are desperately needed. This should be job one for our state legislature in 2020, and it will probably be bipartisan. Recent state supreme court rulings have made it easy for these districts to take someone's land. Who knows they could just raise your taxes until you sell. This must be stopped without delay.
https://www.denverpost.com/2019/12/11/editorial-metro-districts-developers-taxes-bonds/
"As it turns out, giving developers taxing and bonding authority was a bad idea.
Just because we’re $17 billion into this failed experiment of trusting for-profit companies with taxpayer dollars doesn’t mean it’s too late to stop. In fact, a new metropolitan district is likely being considered by a city council or county commission near you this month. These city and county officials should stop approving the formation of new districts immediately until local officials and state lawmakers are able to gain control of the situation."
Other Post articles covering the subject:
https://www.denverpost.com/2019/12/05/metro-districts-debt-democracy-colorado-housing-development/
Colorado metro districts and developers create billions in debt, leaving homeowners with soaring tax bills
Districts were created as answer to TABOR, give developers enormous power
https://www.denverpost.com/2019/12/09/metro-districts-transfer-fees-nonprofits-foundations/
There is little transparency for metro district fees that are supposed to benefit the community
The Post found there are no requirements to divulge how the community portion of the funds is spent or who will manage them
https://www.denverpost.com/2019/11/22/metropolitan-districts-colorado-eminent-domain-vincent-carroll/
Vincent Carroll: In the Wild West of Colorado’s metropolitan districts, developers can take land by force
I never agree with Vincent Carroll, but he's on target here.