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Greetings!
Welcome to our first-ever Urban Renewal Issue. Right now there are so many questions about urban renewal topics and urban renewal legislation, we thought it was important to devote an entire newsletter to providing you with detailed information. DCI will continue to support urban renewal in 2012 through advocacy efforts, dissemination of information, and our DIDs Forums, which provide an outlet for focused discussions on many urban renewal topics. Please feel free to contact us with your thoughts and feedback for supporting urban renewal in Colorado.
On February 1, we invite you to join us for our 2012 Annual Meeting in Denver. There is no charge and all members are encouraged to attend. The Downtown Institute: Design will be held on February 2-3 in conjunction with Colorado Preservation, Inc.'s Annual Saving Places Conference--all Downtown Institute attendees will receive complimentary attendance to CPI's 3-day conference! See DCI website for details and to register.
Yesterday we also released our RFP for 2012 Annual Conference Sessions for this year's conference to be held in Golden on September 12-14. We encourage you to submit your sessions!
We look forward to continuing to help you support Colorado communities in 2012!
Cheers!
Katherine Correll
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What's Happening with Urban Renewal
Legislation in Colorado?
| Anne Ricker, Ricker Cunningham, Discusses Why Urban Renewal Law Is Under the Microscope Again
It's January in Colorado and that means the legislature is back in session and the urban renewal law is, once again, under the microscope. As of the date of this article, two possible pieces of legislation are being considered. The first is designed to require urban renewal authorities to complete uniform financial reports. Fortunately, many urban renewal authorities already have internal standardized systems of reporting and many others have expressed intent to do so. The second piece of legislation is related to the state's current statutory mandate to fund pupils at an equal level and the corresponding "backfill" of school budgets in accordance with a statutory funding formula. . A March 2010 article by Raymond Johnson, a graduate student at CU-Boulder studying mathematics, describes the Colorado school finance formula established by the 1994 School Finance Act. The formula determined a base funding amount (per pupil) and funding factors (extra money for cost of living, personnel costs, district size, at-risk students and online students) that together define 'Total Program' funding. "In addition to Total Program funding, some schools get state 'categorical' funding, which provides extra money for six categories: small attendance centers, English language proficiency, gifted and talented, special education, transportation, and vocational education." So what does this have to do with urban renewal? Article X, Section 2 of the Colorado Constitution requires the State to establish and maintain a thorough and uniform free public school system throughout the state. The School Finance Act establishes a per-pupil funding obligation for each school district based on the number of district students on October 1 of each year. Local property taxes are counted first and the state's share makes up the difference. Historically, local property taxes made up the majority of funding. However, since property taxes have decreased and will continue to do so largely because of the impact of the constitutional Gallagher Amendment, the state's share to "fill" needed in the amount mandated for equal pupil funding has steadily increased. If local property taxes contribute more revenue, the state share falls, and, conversely, if local property taxes fall, the state share rises. READ MOREAnne Ricker is a principal at Ricker Cunningham, a real estate advisory firm that works with municipalities, governments, advocacy organizations and investors to enhance communities through economically sound projects. Paul Benedetti, Esq., and Mark Radtke, Colorado Municipal League,also contributed to this article. |
ABC's of Urban Renewal
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An Abbreviated Guide to Helping You Understand
the Basics of Urban Renewal in Colorado
According to National Public Radio's (NPR) website, "The 2012 session is likely to be a tough one ... rife with partisan politics." Unfortunately, and unlike many issues that will be discussed by the legislature this year, urban renewal is one of those rare topics that cross party lines. It seems to evoke emotions in both Democrats and Republicans, and experience has shown that at the root of these emotions is either misinformation or a lack of information.
In an effort to educate the Colorado citizenry and its leaders about what is fact versus fiction when it comes to urban renewal, Downtown Colorado, Inc., together with the Colorado Municipal League and Ricker Cunningham, are going to publish a series of articles on this topic, featuring questions and answers; testimonials from both citizens and community leaders with first-hand knowledge of urban renewal projects; case studies; and, legislative updates. This, the first of these articles, is intended to provide you with a foundation of understanding about urban renewal through a series of questions and answers often raised during the urban renewal planning process We welcome any comments you might have on this series -- possible topics, perspectives or testimonials.
Frequently asked questions about urban renewal:
- What is urban renewal?
- What is Tax Increment Financing (TIF)?
- What can TIF be used to finance?
- Can TIF always be used to finance a project?
- If an area is described as "blighted" what does that mean?
- What is a Conditions Survey (Blight Study) and why do one?
- What is the process for establishing an urban renewal area and advancing an urban renewal plan?
- How many individual urban renewal areas can a community establish?
READ MORE for answers to the above questions.
Anne Ricker is principal of Ricker Cunningham. Paul Benedetti, Esq., and Mark Radtke, Colorado Municipal League, also contributed to this article.
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California Court Decision Ominous for Colorado
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Brad Segal, Progressive Urban Management Associates,
Explains How This Can Impact Colorado
In December, while much of the nation was on holiday, the California Supreme Court issued a bombshell decision that effectively shuts down that state's 400 local redevelopment agencies. It was a victory for Governor Jerry Brown, seeking to redistribute redevelopment funds to schools and basic services and help close California's yawning $26 billion budget deficit. It was a defeat for cities, effectively terminating the use of the state's most valuable local economic development tool. The California case is also very relevant to Colorado, as we appear to be moving down a similar path.
At issue was the use of tax increment financing (TIF) to assist in the redevelopment of commercial areas. In California, TIF allows proceeds from increases in property taxes to be captured for investment within designated geographic districts. The original intent of TIF was to cure blighted conditions within city centers. It is a common tool, used in more than 40 states throughout the nation, including Colorado. Since legislative authority was granted in California in the 1940s, many cities have seen dramatic improvements, including the revitalized downtowns of San Diego, Pasadena and Santa Monica. Closer to home, examples of the use of TIF include the Denver Dry and Pavilions projects in downtown Denver, improvements at Stapleton and the revitalization of many smaller communities, such as Old Town Arvada. READ MORE
Brad Segal is president of Progressive Urban Management Associates,an international consulting firm that provides management, marketing and financial services to advance downtown and community development.
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Support Urban Renewal in Colorado
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Help Us to Share the Positive Stories of Urban Renewal
Below are some action steps you can take to protect and promote urban renewal as a tool in Colorado. 1. Provide DCI with Testimonials: DCI is still looking for strong examples of urban renewal dollars spent on helping small business that can be packaged and presented to the legislature as case studies of the positive impacts of urban renewal in Colorado. Please send your examples to director@downtowncoloradoinc.org with subject: URBAN RENEWAL CASE STUDY. 2. Complete URA Impact Study: DCI, Ricker Cunningham and Colorado Municipal League are partnering to update the URA Impact Study. A survey will be sent to all Colorado URAs. Completion of this survey will provide us with important information that we can share with our legislators. If you are a URA and do not receive the survey, please contact DCI and we will be sure that you do. 3. Participate in Upcoming Events: DCI and partner organizations are planning events that present opportunities to show support for urban renewal. Some of the events currently planned include: Feb 7: Urban Renewal Developer Breakfast Feb 8: Layered Organizations: Effective or Overkill Mar 14: Other Taxing Entities and the Bottom Line: How to Get to Yes for Redevelopment Apr 11: Legislative Update May 9: Small Business and Job Creation Jul 11: Telling the Redevelopment Story Also, check out our recap of yesterday's forum, Using TIF to Establish a Line of Credit. View website for details and to register today. Help us to support urban renewal in Colorado! |
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DCI is an equal opportunity employer. DCI employs personnel without regard to race, creed, color, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, age, physical or mental handicap, veteran status and marital status. |
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2012 DCI
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Save the Date!
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Community
Bulletin Board | Colorado Entrepreneurship Marketplace Seeking Planning Committee Participants
CPI Invites You to National Film Premiere of Centennial Statehouse: Colorado's Greatest Treasure on Feb 1
Progressive Urban Management Associates releases Top 10 Global Trends Affecting Downtowns Report
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Jobs & RFPs E-Notice
| Last month DCI launched our first monthly Jobs & RFPs e-notice. Let us help you get the word out to our huge network!
Submit all job openings and RFPs by next Monday, Jan 16, to ensure your notice will be included.
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