Inside Firestone

Firestone and Weld County Enter Into Landmark Intergovernmental Agreement

On January 28, 2010 at their regularly schedule meeting, the Firestone Town Board of Trustees, in their capacity as the Firestone Urban Renewal Board of Directors, voted to approve an important cooperative intergovernmental agreement between Firestone and Weld County. The agreement provides for revenue sharing of the incremental increase in the County’s property tax over the 25-year life of the Firestone Urban Renewal Authority (FURA).

There has been an ongoing concern by county governments in general, regarding the ability for them to provide necessary county services, including jails and social services, in urban renewal areas because the urban renewal authority would capture all of the county’s incremental property tax. Recognizing the issues that would confront Weld County if FURA captured all of this important revenue stream, Mayor Auer and the Firestone Board of Trustees held a joint meeting with the Weld County Commissioners on January 18, 2010 at the Firestone Town Hall. At the meeting they discussed a way to maximize the potential for improvements in the FURA plan area, but at the same time assuring the County received the revenue it needed to provide services in the area as well.

A cooperative agreement was reached at the joint meeting whereby FURA and Weld County would split the incremental property tax revenue over the life of the FURA plan. Weld County officially approved the revenue sharing intergovernmental agreement at their meeting on January 27, 2010 and the FURA Board approved it on January 28, 2010.

Mayor Chad Auer, serving in his capacity as Chairperson of the FURA Board of Directors said: “This cooperative effort and revenue sharing agreement between Firestone and Weld County is the way governments should cooperate, especially when it involves urban renewal areas. The dialogue between Firestone and Weld County through this entire process has been incredibly positive, respectful and constructive. The ability for these two great governments to work through difficult issues together, has created a win-win victory for the citizens of Firestone and Weld County.”

The following are photographs of Firestone and Weld County officials at the January 18, 2010 joint meeting.

Front Row: From left to right: Trustee Matt Holcomb, Mayor Chad Auer, Trustee Butch Walb, County Finance and Administration Director Monica Daniels-Mika, Commissioner Sean Conway, Town Manager Wes LaVanchy.

Back Row: Town Attorney Sam Light, Trustee Darrell Walsh, Commissioner Barb Kirkmeyer, Trustee Paul Sorensen, Commissioner Doug Rademacher, County Attorney Bruce Barker.