Unfair Burden on Taxpayers: The Case Against Fully Burying the North Area Water Tanks and Pump Station and its Implications for Broomfield's Future
The decision to fully bury the North Area Water Tanks and Pump Station, at an additional cost of $7,000,000, is essentially a vanity project that caters only to the residents of the affluent Anthem Reserve. These residents, who failed to research the project before purchasing their homes and the potential to change their views, now demand that the rest of Broomfield bear the cost of their oversight. This is a blatant case of unfairness and injustice that we cannot turn a blind eye to.
Resolution No. 2024-68 North Area Buried Water Tanks and Pump Station
The decision to fully bury the North Area Water Tanks and Pump Station, at an additional cost of $ 7,000,000, is essentially a vanity project that caters only to the residents of the affluent Anthem Reserve. These residents, who failed to research the project before purchasing their homes and the potential to change their views, now demand that the rest of Broomfield bear the cost of their oversight. This is a blatant case of unfairness and injustice that we cannot turn a blind eye to.
The decision to bury the North Area Water Tanks and Pump Station entirely is about more than aesthetics. It's a significant financial burden that could burden other essential community projects and services. The additional $7,000,000 cost, on top of the already expensive $93,000,000 project, will be shouldered by the majority of Broomfield's taxpayers for generations to come. This worrying prospect for the future of our community should concern us all.
This misuse of taxpayer revenues directly contradicts Broomfield's core values of equality and fairness. It unfairly shifts the financial burden onto the entire community for the benefit of the wealthy residents of Anthem Reserve. We must ensure that our resources are allocated fairly and aligned with our community's values.
Together, we can make Broomfield Strong. The decision to fully bury the North Area Water Tanks and Pump Station is a clear example of a vanity project that unfairly burdens all Broomfield taxpayers for the benefit of the wealthy few.
Alternatively, if the residents of the affluent Anthem Reserve wish to bury the North Area Water Tanks and Pump Station, the roughly 108 households can opt to pay approximately $65,000 per household to pay the difference of the new estimated cost. This approach would ensure that the burden is distributed equitably and that all residents are equally accountable for their decisions. A study should also be conducted to determine the increase in long-term maintenance liabilities, and the residents of Anthem Reserve can levy a tax to offset those increases.
Given Broomfield's current financial challenges, such as increasing base water rates by 50% to fund critical infrastructure upgrades, it is more fiscally prudent not to bury the North Area Water Tanks and Pump Station. In the interest of transparency and financial resilience, Broomfield should also assess the cost of not burying them to help reduce the long-term tax burden and base water rates for all residents of Broomfield.