At the end of their May 2021 session, the Colorado House of Representatives passed Senate Bill 21-262, and within a few days the Senate also approved the bill and then the Governor. The bill introduces some provisions regarding the transparency of actions taken in special metropolitan districts, which have the authority to use municipal resources to construct and maintain public infrastructure. This brief guide offers some insight into the bill and its consequences. 

What Is the Goal of the Bill?

Metropolitan districts in Colorado are independent government entities that are tasked with building and improving public parks, roads, and certain utility infrastructures. They are overseen by elected officials and are intended to help keep the cost of housing low by providing resources for public infrastructure early in development phases and allowing more money to be allotted to building more housing.

The goal of the bill is to introduce transparency into the process of nominating and electing individuals to oversee the districts. These changes aim to make the process more accessible to those who live in the districts and are affected by these decisions, rather than keeping the district's municipal resources for the disposal of developers. 

What Does the Bill Change?

Previously, the call for nominations for metropolitan district leadership was only publicized by publication. Under SB 21-262, the call must now be issued 75 to 100 days in advance via two of five possible methods defined by the bill. For metropolitan districts organized before January 1, 2020, the call must be published and publicized by at least one other method, while in metropolitan districts organized after that date, an email must be sent to all registered electors on file, and the call must be posted by one other outlined method.

The bill also introduced stipulations limiting a metropolitan district's right to use dominant eminent domain, and it specified information that must be shared with buyers by anyone selling real estate property within metropolitan districts.

To learn more about how your metropolitan district affects you, your family, and your community, reach out to Metropolitan District Education Coalition in Englewood, CO. This non-profit organization is dedicated to educating residents about how municipal resources are used to fund, govern, and operate these special districts. Learn more about SB 21-262 on their website, and call (720) 710-9172 to request more information.