Special Districts

Altogether, Colorado Springs has well over 100 different special financing districts created under Colorado Revised Statutes or City Code.  These districts provide financing for public improvements costs and/or are responsible for  ongoing services or maintenance of improvements that are  not provided by the City, Colorado Springs Utilities of another entity such as a property owners association.  The roles and functions of these districts vary significantly depending on the type of district and their individually specified function and purposes.  Most, but not all districts levy a property tax mill levy, which may be quite substantial.  In almost all cases, districts levy an operational property tax mill levy to offset administrative costs and sometimes to maintain improvements or to provide services.  In some cases, districts have a debt service mill levy to service debt that has been issued, or is expected to be issued (most often in the form of bonds).  Included below is a link  to a summary list of all applicable districts with territory within the City.  Links to maps depicting the current boundaries of these district are also found bellow.  It should be noted that certain types of specialized district or taxing areas  (e.g. school districts, the Pikes Peak Library, and fire districts with territory that remains in the City),  are generally not included in these summaries

Special Districts Maps

• Metropolitan and School Districts (map)
• Special Districts and Urban Renewal Areas (map)
• Related Non City Metropolitan Districts (map)
• 2021 Special District List

In 2019 and 2020 City Council conducted seven informal Work Sessions addressing many of aspects of special districts that are relevant to Colorado Springs. 

Types of Districts

Residents or property owners with questions or concerns about a particular special district should normally begin with the designated point of contact for that district. Often, the district will have a designated manager, but sometimes the initial point of contact will be an attorney the developer of a project.

• Metropolitan districts contacts
• Business improvement districts (BIDs) contacts

All, general improvement districts (GIDs) and special improvement maintenance districts (SIMDs) are managed by the City staff.

• City staff contacts

Other sources of information for districts include the El Paso County  Assessor’s web site that has information on current tax rates, and contacts. 

The City of Colorado Springs routinely processes applications including for creation of new special districts, amended plans for existing districts, and authorizations for districts to formally issue debt.

Included here is the City’s Special District Policy, adopted Model Service Plans for metropolitan districts, and adopted template for initial BID Operating Plan and Budgets and their required annual updates

• Information about the special district application process and fees (see below)
• Information about annual approval process for BOD Operating Plans and Budgets 
• Information about required metropolitan district annual reports

For additional information on the special district applications process and to submit and schedule items, please contact:

Fees

Effective March 1, 2019, the following fees will be collected for processing the noted special district applications noted below. Payments will continue to be submitted to the City Clerk’s office.

Many properties in Colorado Springs are included in unique special financing districts of different types, especially in newer or redeveloping areas of the City.  Altogether, there are about eighty (80) of these districts, although some are inactive. They are ordinarily initiated by the developer of a property, but are approved by City Council. 

The purposes of these districts may include financing of public improvements, ongoing maintenance and operations, or a combination. In general, these districts either serve to reimburse the developer for public improvements they are required to provide or to augment public facilities and services which might not otherwise be available to most City residents.

Most districts obtain their revenue via a property tax, although some may also charge fees or collect assessments. Residential districts have an eventual time limit for debt service, but in some cases they may operate more or less in perpetuity to provide maintenance and/or services. Under current City policy, City Council must determine whether proposed district bond issues are compliant with approved district plans, prior to issuance.

Disclosure, Notice and Protections

Because individual districts have the potential for unique features and circumstances, it is advisable to contact either the district representative or the Comprehensive Planning Division for detailed information. Metropolitan districts, BIDs or GIDs should have an approved service or operating plan available.

The service plans include a disclosure form. Annual reports are required to be submitted for metropolitan districts. A County Assessor’s Parcel Search will identify any existing mill levy being assessed for a district, along with contact information for that entity.

However, there are limited cases where a mill levy has yet to be certified, or there is a potential for an increase authorized by a prior vote. In these circumstance the owner or prospective owner should undertake due diligence including being attentive to documents and notices recorded against the property and required to be provided at the closings for property sales.

City Special Districts White Paper

The City Special Districts White Paper describes City districts, some of their key features and related issues. The City’s Special District Policy sets forth general policies and limitations applicable to many of these districts. 

• Special Districts White Paper
  • Errata Sheet
• Special District Policy

Work Sessions (2019-2020)

In late 2019 and in 2020, Council held at total of seven informational work sessions which covered a broad range of special district topics related to the City of Colorado Springs.  The content of these background and information sessions was prepared and presented by staff of the Planning & Community Development Department.  The City Council cover memos, PowerPoints and attachments for each of these presentations may be found by clicking on each session.   Please specifically note that some of these attachments were current as of the time of the presentation, and in some cases updated versions may be available.