TischlerBise was retained by the City of Boulder, Colorado, to review and update our original impact fee study for fire/rescue, parks, trails, police, general government, and libraries. In addition, TischlerBise updated our original Transportation Excise Tax methodology, which required voter approval. In the update, TischlerBise prepared the impact fees and excise tax using progressive housing multipliers (i.e. the fee increases with the size of the dwelling unit). The primary reason for this approach was to promote housing affordability. Because any change to the City’s current Transportation Excise Tax required another referendum, TischlerBise worked with a citizen/developer Liaison Committee throughout the study process.
The City of Boulder also contracted with TischlerBise to prepare a transportation maintenance fee methodology. The establishment of a transportation maintenance fee to address transportation needs not only allows a jurisdiction to address the funding of capital improvements but also provides revenue to cover the cost of operations and administration. Maintenance fees may address all aspects of capital costs including debt service, operations, maintenance, and repair and replacement of facilities. Unlike impact fees that are imposed on new development, maintenance fee revenue is generated from all development, existing and new. This stable revenue stream can support the issuance of bonds backed by the anticipated utility revenue.