This bill makes several key changes to the requirements for metropolitan districts and residential real property within their boundaries, focusing on transparency, accessibility, and communication with residents. Here are the major provisions:
1. Annual Public Meetings for Metropolitan Districts:
Notice Requirements: In addition to the existing notice requirements under the Colorado Open Meetings Law, metropolitan districts must provide notice of the annual public meeting:
By postcard or letter to residents.
By electronic mail to any email addresses the district has on file.
Posted on the district's website homepage.
Availability of Forms: If the meeting is held at a physical location, hard copies of self-nomination and acceptance forms (for electors to run for a board position) must be available at the meeting.
2. Publicly Accessible Website:
Metropolitan districts that are required to have a publicly accessible website must include the following information:
Annual Meeting Details: The date, time, and location of the annual meeting.
Explanation of Metropolitan Districts: A general explanation of what metropolitan districts are and how the district operates.
Services Provided: A list of services provided by the district and, if any services are not provided by the district, the name of the entity providing those services.
Annual Report Filing: The name of the county or municipality with which the district must file its annual report.
Contact Information: A contact person for residents to reach out to with concerns when district personnel are unavailable.
Additional information required on the home page includes:
Names, terms, and contact info for board members and any managers.
Scheduled regular meetings, including the annual meeting.
Call for nominations for board elections.
Information on the services provided by the district and other entities.
Contact details for someone to reach when district personnel are unavailable.
3. Disclosure Requirements for Property Sales:
Disclosures: Owners of residential real property in a metropolitan district (regardless of whether the property is new construction) must provide the following to purchasers:
Information about the district, including its authority to issue debt, levy property taxes, and impose fees.
An estimate of the property taxes the district is levying during the year of the sale.
A copy of the most recent tax certificate or tax statement showing additional mill levies by overlapping taxing entities.
A hard copy of the explanation of metropolitan districts and how the district operates, which is available on the district's website.
This bill enhances transparency and communication within metropolitan districts by requiring them to provide more accessible and detailed information to residents.
Summary
Under current law, certain metropolitan districts are required to
hold annual public meetings at which residents can ask questions about the metropolitan district and financial information about the metropolitan district is shared. The bill requires that, in addition to notice requirements under the Colorado open meetings law, notice of this annual meeting be provided by postcard or letter to residents or by electronic mail to any electronic mailing addresses that the metropolitan district has on file and be posted on the homepage of the metropolitan district's website. The bill also requires that, if the annual meeting is held at a physical location, there be available hard copies of self-nomination and acceptance forms, which are forms required to be filed for an eligible elector to be a candidate for a board position at a special district election.
The bill also requires that metropolitan districts that are required
to have a publicly accessible website must establish a system or a process for residents to contact someone associated with the metropolitan district at times when district personnel is otherwise unavailable or unreachable to address any questions or concerns regarding services of the metropolitan district.
For a metropolitan district that is required to have a publicly
accessible website, the bill requires the following additional information to be provided on the website:
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The date, time, and location of the annual meeting;
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An explanation of what metropolitan districts are generally and how the metropolitan district operates;
•
The services that the metropolitan district provides and, if a service to the metropolitan district's residents is not provided by the metropolitan district, the name of the entity that provides the service;
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The name of the county or municipality with which the metropolitan district must file its annual report; and
•
The name and contact information of someone who residents can contact with questions or concerns about the services of the district when district personnel is otherwise unavailable or unreachable.
The bill also specifies that the following information must be
provided on the home page of the metropolitan district's website:
•
The names, terms, and contact information of individuals serving on the board of directors and of any manager of the metropolitan district;
•
The date, time, and location of scheduled regular meetings, including the annual meeting;
•
The call for nominations for candidates to run for election to the board of directors;
•
Information about the services the metropolitan district provides and the services that are provided by other entities; and
•
The name and contact information of who residents can contact with questions or concerns about the services of the district when district personnel is otherwise unavailable or unreachable. Current law requires that each owner of real property that sells real
property that includes a newly constructed residence and that is in the boundaries of a metropolitan district must provide certain disclosures to purchasers of the property including access to the annually required notice to electors and the metropolitan district's service plan; information on the authority the metropolitan district has to issue debt, levy property taxes, and impose fees, rates, tolls, penalties, or other charges; an estimate of property taxes levied by the metropolitan district for collection during the year the sale occurs; and a copy of the most current certificate of taxes due or tax statement to provide an estimate of the sum of additional mill levies levied by other taxing entities that overlap the property. The bill requires this disclosure to be made by all owners of any residential real property, regardless of whether it is new construction, that is located within the boundaries of a metropolitan district organized after January 1, 2000.
The bill also requires an owner of residential real property that is
located within the boundaries of a metropolitan district organized after January 1, 2000, that sells the property to provide a hard copy of the explanation of what metropolitan districts are generally and how the metropolitan district operates that is required to be provided on the metropolitan district's website.
