Oct. 2, 2026 This week, we explore Boulder’s $400M bond to pay for infrastructure with current city councilwoman Nicole Speer and former city councilman Bob Yates What is it asking? Should Boulder borrow up to $400 million (with a total repayment of $650 million) to pay for capital projects (things like buildings, roads, vehicles, and other infrastructure) related to recreation and safety? That could include, but not be limited to, the six examples listed in the ballot language: Replacing the South Boulder Rec Center and adding a lap poolMaintenance at the North Boulder Rec Center, including replastering the pool, new heating + cooling, replacing walls + windowsMoving the West Age Well Center to the North Boulder Rec Center, including a redesign of the showers and lockers and expansion of the weight roomRenovating Fire Stations No. 1 and No. 5Building a new police headquarters + dispatch centerRedeveloping the Municipal Services Center, hub of the city’s Fleet, Transportation and Utilities departmentsRenovate and repair the Penfield Tate II Municipal BuildingFind a full list of proposed projects here The cost of borrowing the money will be paid for by up to $32.5 million in new property taxes each year for 20 years. How much will it cost? $400 per year on a home worth $1 million; 3-4X that for a commercial property of the same value Use this map to find out how much your property taxes would go up However, the full $400M will likely not be borrowed all at once. The city typically undertakes only a few big capital projects at a time (due to staff limitations) and there are already ongoing projects at the head of the list. Property tax increases may be more gradual over time as the city borrows for projects in batches, rather than all at once. Why you might want to vote for this Boulder has a huge backlog of infrastructure projects: $500 million, according to city estimates. Its 75 buildings average 50+ years old, and many are in poor shape — leaks, risk of mold, temperature swings and accessibility issues via broken elevators. Consolidating + replacing buildings could save money over time. (Think about an old car — You could keep paying for $1-3K in repairs, plus regular maintenance, but it only loses value over time. It might be cheaper in the long run to buy a new one.) Fewer buildings also means lower maintenance costs over time. (This tax would pay to consolidate at least two buildings.) If the city has to vacate buildings due to their degradation over time, some services could be eliminated. For example: the South Boulder Rec Center. Others, like police headquarters, would move into other offices, but there are fewer options for relocating a gym + pool facility. Why you might not want to vote for this It’s expensive — one of the largest tax increases on the ballot (depending on your home value and income) and one of the largest in recent memory. It will be especially expensive for businesses, which pay a higher rate of tax. Since landlords factor taxes into commercial rents, businesses themselves are likely to pay this, not the owners of commercial properties. Boulder’s budget is constrained. The population + tax base is shrinking. Some critics of the tax say the tax should focus only on necessary repairs + maintenance, rather than any expansions or upgrades (like the North Boulder Rec Center, police headquarters or city hall). Other things to consider Rec centers are also used as emergency shelters during natural disasters (displaced residents stayed at North Boulder Rec Center during the Marshall Fire) or severe weather (East Boulder Rec Center has been used numerous times as shelter for the unhoused). These uses may increase due to climate change, and expand to include uses like cooling centers during heat waves. As even critics of the bond measure admit, taxpayers will eventually have to fund the city’s infrastructure backlog. There is no alternative to government-provided services like police + fire. Boulder’s infrastructure maintenance backlog was reported at $700 million in 2011. Adjusted for inflation, that’s $1.02 billion in today’s dollars. The City has asked voters for $257.65 million in sales tax specifically for infrastructure since 2014 (through the Community, Culture, Resilience + Safety Tax, passed in 2014 and renewed in 2017, 2021 and made permanent in 2025), according to a BVHz analysis. This is the first property tax specifically for infrastructure. Home owners + businesses typically have an outsized voice in local government, which may account for the vocal opposition. Other opinions PRO: Facilities funding debate deserves facts not misinformationCON: Boulder deserves a better bond proposal, not a $400 million blank check Next week Should Boulder County add two commissioners? FULL EPISODE TRANSCRIPT SupportElection coverage takes a lot of work! Throw us some cash if you’ve got it at Patreon.com/BoulderFrequencyPod. Or sponsor an episode and reach our growing audience of highly engaged listeners. You can sponsor an episode of The Frequency — email boulderfrequency@gmail.com. --------------------------- Produced by BVHz in partnership with The Mountain Ear Independent, local journalism for Boulder County Our team Journalist + producer: Shay Castle Audio producer + music: Kelly Garry Additional support provided by Jeff Rozic and Tyler Hickman *Find bonus content and support us on Patreon
