Why Broomfield Taxpayer Matters?
For our inaugural post as Broomfield Taxpayer Matters, we figured it would be good to provide some insight as to why?
Why Broomfield Taxpayer Matters?
Simply put, as taxpayers of Broomfield, we have a clearly vested interest in how the tax dollars that we provide to our municipal government are being spent, and that the gathering and spending of those dollars is done carefully and responsibly. Simply put We The People need to be fully informed and Broomfield Taxpayer Matters (BTM) wishes to shed light and transparency on the financial and civic matters of the city that we all love.
Did you know how much the City and County of Broomfield is projected to collect in tax receipts in 2020? Per the 2020 Proposed City and County budget dated October 22, 2019, Broomfield will collect $90,265,128 via property taxes, sales taxes, use taxes (building materials and vehicles), special ownership taxes, and “other taxes”. Adding to previously collected taxes, Broomfield will be in possession of $392,366,801 of your hard earned income.
That is nearly half a billion dollars of your money in the hands of the city.
Do you know you have a say in how those dollars are spent? Well you should and you do. The reason we are bringing this up is that there is an ever growing list of “projects”, “programs”, and “initiatives” for which we are footing the bill. We are paying for all of these programs and then some - From subsidizing “affordable housing”, economic vitality departments, increasing legal spending, additional environmental staff and studies, a growing health and human services department, new community centers, to a future “civic center”. All of this on top of the ongoing maintenance of our roads, parks, open space, and public safety including our police, fire, and emergency support services.
We are simply offering an avenue to shed light on how your money is being collected and spent, by the Broomfield City Council and City Staff. We’ll provide a perspective that helps to position you, as the taxpayer to understand what our city is pursuing. We’ll help shed light on costs and spending on many of these programs, and raise the difficult questions about these endeavors. What you do with the information we will leave to you! However, should you wish to take action we will support you by providing assistance on how to raise questions to those that we have elected as a check on how they are managing our tax payer dollars.
This is why Broomfield Taxpayer Matters was formed. We the People are footing the bill for these programs, bills, ordinances and expenditures and each of us has a role to play in a fiscally responsible Broomfield both now and well into our future!
Join us, as we stand together as a voice to support successes and when needed hold our City, County, and City Council representatives accountable.
Sincerely,
Broomfield Taxpayer Matters.