BY KIM GLASSCOCK
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The Niwot Local Improvement District Advisory Committee found itself in an enviable economic position when committee members met Jan. 4 to discuss the LID’s 2011 budget proposal.

LID members estimated that the district will have up to $64,000 in sales tax income to spend in 2011, up from approximately $37,000 in 2010. The boost in available funds comes from the upcoming retirement of bonds for the street and sidewalk improvements the LID was originally created to fund. 
Half of the revenues from a 1 percent sales tax imposed through the local improvement district have been used to repay the bonds; the rest of the revenues have funded additional capital improvement projects, community events and marketing for Niwot.

As part of the LID’s annual budget request to Boulder County, LID members started discussing possible uses for the anticipated additional sales tax revenues.
Boulder County liaison Pete Salas told LID members that the Board of County Commissioners has suggested hiring a consultant to take a comprehensive look at transportation, infrastructure needs and land use in Niwot in order to identify the community’s needs.

“The consultant could provide an overview and plan – sort of a roadmap to follow,” Salas said.
LID member Carrie Wise questioned whether Boulder County or the LID would pay the costs of a consultant’s study. “I’m all for paying for sidewalks and other improvements, but I think paying for the cost of a consultant should at least be a joint venture with the county,” Wise said.

But LID member Jim Eastman disagreed. “We lack an overall planning and infrastructure piece,” he said. “A study could give us that information, and I think it would be appropriate for the LID to pay that cost.”

LID member Harris Faberman said he favored having a study done and felt it would be appropriate to have the LID pay the cost. “I think this is a use of the tax dollars generated by Niwot that would identify community needs and benefit the town,” he said. He reminded the group that the LID is an advisory committee, and the LID’s budget is approved by the county commissioners.
While Wise said she did see value in having the study done, she expressed concern about funding the cost. “I don’t want the county to always think that the LID will be able to pay for things the county wants,” Wise said. “I am concerned about setting a precedent.”

Outgoing Boulder County liaison Megan Davis suggested that the consultant also could include ideas about what planning costs could be paid for by the LID, or by the county.

Instead of setting very specific uses for the additional funding, LID members agreed with a suggestion from LID member Tony Santelli that LID revenues should generally be allocated in a 50/50 split between marketing efforts and Niwot’s infrastructure and capital improvement needs.

To that end, LID members allocated $32,000 toward community events, advertising and promotion. The remaining $32,000 was budgeted toward professional, consulting and technical services; signage; landscaping and streetscape improvements; and materials and supplies.
“This idea follows the historical use of LID funding,” Eastman said.
“And it makes sense,” Wise agreed.

LID committee member Ann May suggested that the LID put together a report to the Niwot community on how LID funds were spent in 2010. The report could be published in the Left Hand Valley Courier newspaper and on the Niwot.com website, she said.
“I think it is important to show the public how we have spent those sales tax dollars,” May said.

LID members agreed, and asked Salas to work with Boulder County staff to gather information for a report.
In other business, May announced that she was stepping down from her position as the Niwot Community Association representative on the LID. The NCA will forward a nomination to fill the position to the county commissioners for approval.
LID members expressed surprise and thanked May for her valuable service to the LID.
Legislation to allow local improvement districts to add properties to their districts was expected to be introduced in the Colorado state legislature in mid-January, according to Davis.

Current state law does not include a way to add properties after the initial boundaries for a district are set and approved by voters. The proposed legislation would allow commercial property owners to request that their property be included in a LID.
B
oulder County attorneys drafted the proposed legislation at the request of the Niwot LID Advisory Committee, and Bolder County Commissioners have indicated that they support the proposed legislation, Davis said.
Davis added that the state House sponsor of the proposed bill is expected to be Dickey Lee Hullinghorst (D-Boulder), while the state Senate sponsor is expected to be Rollie Heath (D-Boulder).