Boulder City Council · Document
Agenda Memo
Regular Meeting, October 15, 2026 · item 6C: Consideration of the following pertaining to the 2027 budget of the Knollwood Metropolitan District: Consideration of a motion to convene th… · 8 pages
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City of Boulder City Council Agenda Item Meeting Date: October 15, 2026
Agenda Title Consideration of the following pertaining to the 2027 budget of the Knollwood Metropolitan District: Consideration of a motion to convene the 2027 annual budget meeting; and 1. Consideration of a motion to adopt Resolution 5 concerning the Knollwood Metropolitan District adopting a budget for the fiscal year beginning January 1, 2027; and setting forth related details; and 2. Consideration of a motion to adopt Resolution 6 establishing the 2026 Knollwood Metropolitan District property tax mill levy for payment of expenditures, in part, of the district during the fiscal year 2027, beginning January 1, 2027; and setting forth related details; and 3. Consideration of a motion to adopt Resolution 7 appropriating money to defray the expenses and liabilities of the Knollwood Metropolitan District for the 2027 fiscal year beginning January 1, 2027; and setting forth related details; and Consideration of a motion to adjourn as the Knollwood Metropolitan District Board of Directors and reconvene as the Boulder City Council
Staff Contact • • •
Jeremy Creamean, Controller, Finance Department Brenda Richey, Deputy Director, Finance Department Krista Morrison, Chief Financial Officer, Finance Department
Draft Motion Language Consideration of the following pertaining to the 2027 budget of the Knollwood Metropolitan District: 1. Motion to adopt Resolution 5 concerning the Knollwood Metropolitan District adopting a budget for the fiscal year beginning January 1, 2027; and setting forth related details; and 2. Motion to adopt Resolution 6 establishing the 2026 Knollwood Metropolitan District property tax mill levy for payment of expenditures, in part, of the district during the fiscal year 2027, beginning January 1, 2027; and setting forth related details; and 3. Motion to adopt Resolution 7 appropriating money to defray the expenses and liabilities of the Knollwood Metropolitan District for the 2027 fiscal year beginning January 1, 2027; and setting forth related details; and Motion to adjourn as the Knollwood Metropolitan District Board of Directors and reconvene as the Boulder City Council
Executive Summary The purpose of this item is for Boulder City Council convening as the Knollwood Metropolitan District Board of Directors (“Board”) to adopt and appropriate the 2027 budget for the Knollwood Metropolitan District (“District”) of $233,343 and set a mill levy of 20.570 mills.
Board Action Options Option
Outcome
Approve motion language as drafted
If the motions are approved, the District will have an appropriated and adopted budget established mill levy for the 2027 fiscal year.
Define and adopt a modified motion
The Board would need to define any modifications or amendments to the draft motion language. This will likely require staff to bring back an amended version.
Deny the motion or take no action
If the Board does not adopt the resolutions, the district’s budget and spending authority will expire, and essential governmental actions will be jeopardized.
Refer back to staff
If the Board refers this item back to staff, the Board will need to define the modifications or amendments so that staff is prepared to present modified and amended district budget resolutions at a second reading.
Alignment with City Plans and City Council History Sustainability, Equity and Resilience (SER) Framework and Citywide Strategic Plan Alignment SER Framework Goal Area N/A – the District is a separate legal entity from the City of Boulder and has not adopted the SER Framework. Citywide Strategic Plan N/A – the District is a separate legal entity from the City of Boulder and has not adopted the Citywide Strategic Plan. Staff Notes N/A – this is a standard budget item.
Alignment with Additional City Plans N/A – this is a standard budget item.
City Council History In 2019, the city annexed just under 50 homes along the western border of the city in a subdivision called Knollwood. At the time, the Knollwood Metropolitan District served the residents of the subdivision by providing services such as water and street maintenance. As part of the annexation process, the city and the District entered into an intergovernmental agreement (the “Annexation IGA”) in which the residents of the subdivision agreed to dissolve the District by transferring the provision of the District’s services to the city and to limit the powers of the District following such transfer. The Annexation IGA states that the District shall be dissolved for all purposes except paying financial obligations and outstanding debt of the District. The Annexation IGA also requires that upon such limited dissolution, the Boulder City Council serve as the Board of Directors of the District until all financial obligations and debts are paid and the District can be finally dissolved. On April 17, 2025, City Council accepted the Boulder District Court’s appointment to serve as the Knollwood Board of Directors and adopted bylaws for the District. A more complete background of the annexation process can be found in the April 17, 2025 City Council agenda memo. As the District’s Board of Directors, City Council has the duty to adopt a budget during a public hearing, appropriate funds, and establish a mill levy for the 2027 fiscal year for the District to ensure continued payment of the District’s financial obligations and outstanding debt.
Analysis In its limited role, the District’s continuing duties include: • All activities related to ensure full repayment of the debt, including: o Opening and maintaining bank accounts. o Adjusting and certifying a mill levy to the County Commissioners of Boulder County. o Enforcing collection of any taxes due to the District. o Complying with all terms and conditions, covenants, or reporting requirements contained in the loan agreements. • General administrative duties of the District, as required by §§ 32-1-701 to 710 C.R.S., including: o Keeping and maintaining books of account in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. o Preparing an annual budget and appropriating funds. o Preparing for an annual audit.
o Maintaining proper insurance. The source of the District's revenues are property taxes derived from separate mill levies for debt service and general operations. Over the past several years, the District's Board of Directors aggressively reduced the number of mills for both debt service and general operations. This was made possible due to a high amount of cash reserves at the District and historical trends of increasing property tax assessments which enabled the District to collect less property taxes than was required to satisfy the debt obligations of the District. Table 1: Property Tax vs. Debt Service Category Property Tax Revenue Debt Service Expense Surplus/(Deficit)
2022
2023
2024
2025 $192,035
2026 Projected $233,890
2027 Budget $239,200
$216,045
$219,340
$206,782
$233,384
$433,667
$224,220
$227,675
$227,675
$223,343
$(7,339)
$(214,327)
$(17,438)
$(33,729)
$6,215
$15,857
Note: 2023 debt service expense included an additional payment and draw down of reserves.
Chart 1: Property Tax vs. Debt Service $500,000 $400,000 $300,000 $200,000 $100,000 $0 Property Tax Revenue Debt Service Expense
2022 $216,045 $223,384
2023 $219,340 $433,667
Property Tax Revenue
2024 $206,782 $224,220
2025 $192,035 $225,764
2026 FCST $233,890 $227,675
2027 BUD $239,200 $223,343
Debt Service Expense
Both the mill levy for the debt service fund of 19.570 mills and the 1.000 mill for the general operating fund remain unchanged from 2026 for 2027.
Table 2: Mill Levy History Category 2022 General 2.000 Debt Service 20.900 Total Mills 22.900
2023 1.250 20.500 21.750
2024 1.000 17.000 18.000
2025 1.000 14.000 15.000
2026 1.000 19.570 20.570
2027 1.000 19.570 20.570
Chart 2: Mill Levy History 25.000 20.000 15.000 10.000 5.000 0.000 General Debt Service
2022 2.000 20.900
2023 1.250 20.500
2024 1.000 17.000
Debt Service
2025 1.000 14.000
2026 1.000 19.570
2027 BUD 1.000 19.570
General
Cash reserves have decreased from $35,331 in 2025 to a projected cash balance of $30,138 in 2026. Table 3: Cash Balance History Category 2022 2023 Ending Cash Balance
$437,724
$117,211
2024
2025
$75,402
$35,331
2026 Projected $30,138
2027 Budget $48,195
Chart 3: Cash Balance History
Ending Cash Balance $500,000 $450,000 $400,000 $350,000 $300,000 $250,000 $200,000 $150,000 $100,000 $50,000 $Ending Cash Balance
2022 $437,724
2023 $117,211
2024 $75,402
2025 $35,331
2026 FCST $30,138
2027 BUD $48,195
Due to slowing real property growth and recent state legislation affecting residential properties, the total assessed value for the District has increased approximately $600,000 to $12.5 million in 2026, which is collected in 2027. To cover the 2027 debt service payments, the debt service mill levy has been calculated to remain unchanged from 2026 at 19.570 mills. The mill levy for the operating fund will also remain unchanged at 1.000 mill.
Equity Analysis N/A – the District is a separate legal entity from the City of Boulder and has not adopted the SER framework.
Fiscal Note The 2027 Recommended Budget presented for Board consideration proposes a total District budget of $233,343. The 2027 Recommended Budget online budget book provides an overview of the proposed district budget in the fund financials section. The attached District Resolutions represent the spending level appropriation and property tax mill levy proposed to the Board of Directors as part of the Knollwood Metropolitan District Fund 2027 Budget.
Climate, Resilience, and Sustainability Considerations N/A – the District is a separate legal entity from the City of Boulder and does not have Climate, Resilience, and Sustainability considerations.
Community Engagement This is a standard budget item, and appropriations are limited to those necessary to pay for debt service and statutory reporting requirements. Since 2026 is the first year under the new structure, staff had previously mailed a letter to all property owners providing notice.
Workplan Considerations Adoption of the Resolutions are incorporated into the work of the District’s annual budget process and would not require additional workplan considerations at this time.
Next Steps for City Council Per standard practice associated with resolutions, City Council, convening as the District’s Board of Directors, will consider the District Resolutions at one meeting, which will take place during the City of Boulder City Council meeting scheduled for October 15, 2026.
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Attachments A – Resolution 5 B – Resolution 6 C – Resolution 7