Littleton’s sales tax hike raises over $10 million in first year

BY NINA JOSS NJOSS@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

In its rst year, the sales tax increase implemented by ballot measure 3A raised approximately $10.4 million to support capital improvement projects in Littleton.

Ballot measure 3A passed in November 2021, with about 59% of voters supporting the 0.75% sales tax hike. According to the ballot language, the funds from this tax support projects including street maintenance and reconstruction, street and bridge safety improvements, building replacement an maintenance, sidewalk improvements, parking improvements and more.

In August, city council approved the creation of a citizen committee to annually report on the progress of projects and expenditures related to 3A.

On June 20, the Capital Improvement Sales Tax Committee presented its rst memo to city council, outlining the use of the funds and giving advice for how the city can continue being careful and transparent in future spending of 3A dollars.

Julie Radulovich, a member of the committee, said the city spent about $159,000 of the over $10 million in revenue that came in from the tax in 2022.

“About $20,000 of that was on street paving projects, and then the other ($140,000) was essentially on sta time,” she said. “So not a ton spent this year, but we have about $10.2 million of funds that are going to be planned to be spent in 2023.” e committee noted that the city has a “signi cant backlog” of capital projects in their memo, adding that they appreciate and support that sta has allocated funding prioritization to immediately needed projects.

“We also appreciate that sta has planned on using funds as part of grant matches to leverage state and federal funds towards several projects,” the memo continued. “Lastly, we noted that sta has been strategic with a plan to use future funds to perform proactive maintenance and seeding of certain asset and maintenance funds in order to make them more self-su cient.” e committee members shared several opinions about whether information technology projects t into the intent of the ballot measure. Overall, they said they were comfortable with how all of the 2022 expenditures t with the intent. e committee members also encouraged the city to provide more communication in 2023 regarding the spending of 3A funds to ensure citizens have transparency and clar- ity about where their taxes are going.

“As a citizen, I really want to know, are we doing a good job of spending all the money that’s coming in the door?” John Jones, a committee member, said. “Transparency is not really a question, like, ‘Are you going to be transparent?’ It’s more of a demand … And not that everyone wants to review the budget like I do, but I think there’s this need to do some type of infographic, a one-pager about where the money’s going.” City Manager Jim Becklenberg said a letter will soon go out to all households to inform community members of where they can nd more information about the capital improvement projects their tax dollars are funding.