Metropolitan districts are local governments that finance public improvements and provide services to promote the health, safety, prosperity, security, and general welfare of the inhabitants of the districts and the people of the state of Colorado. Metropolitan districts fill the gaps that may exist in services that other local governments will not provide, and the services residents may desire. The Westerly Metropolitan District Nos 1-4 (the “Districts”) are authorized to provide the following improvements and services: water, storm sewer, sanitation and wastewater treatment, streets, traffic safety protection, parks and recreation, transportation, fire protection, mosquito control, television relay and translation, solid waste disposal facilities or collection and transportation of solid waste, security, and covenant enforcement and design review.
Pursuant to the Districts’ Service Plan, approved by the Town of Erie on January 28, 2020 (the “Service Plan”), the Districts are authorized to issue debt not to exceed $100,000,000 and impose a maximum debt mill levy of 55 mills subject to adjustment, as defined in the Service Plan, for repayment of such debt. The Service Plan authorizes the repayment of debt from the following sources: ad valorem taxes.
The Boards of Directors (the “Boards”) govern the Districts. Board members are elected for four-year terms. During election years, the Districts must provide the Call for Nominations to the electors of the Districts noting the Board seats up for election. If an owner or resident would like to run for a Board seat up for election, he or she must submit a self-nomination form to the Designated Election Official by the applicable deadline as provided in the Call for Nominations. When a vacancy occurs on the Boards between elections, an owner or resident may contact the Districts and request to submit a letter of interest to be appointed to Boards. When an individual is appointed to the Boards, the term for that appointment runs to the next regular election.
To qualify as a director of a district, a person must be an “eligible elector” which is defined as a registered voter of Colorado and either: (1) a resident of the District, or (2) the owner (or the spouse or civil union partner of the owner) of taxable real or personal property located within the District. A person who is under contract to purchase taxable property and is obligated to pay taxes prior to closing is also considered an “owner.”
The Districts file their annual report for the prior year with the Town of Erie.
General Information
Special District Association
The Special District Association of Colorado (SDA) is a statewide membership organization created in 1975 to serve the interests of the special district form of local government in Colorado. You can search for annual transparency notices on this website.
Colorado Department of Local Affairs – Active Colorado Local Governments
This is a website where you can search by the name of the metropolitan district to find information such as budgets, audits, directors’ information and terms, election materials, maps, and the service plan.
Metro District Education Coalition
MDEC serves as a resource on how metropolitan districts work.
Election Information
Colorado Department of Local Affairs – Election Forms
This is a website where you can find metropolitan district election forms, such as self-nomination forms.
Financial Information
Electronic Municipal Market Access (EMMA)
EMMA is designated by the U. S. Securities and Exchange Commission as the official source for municipal securities data and disclosure documents. This is a website where you can search for information regarding debt issued a metropolitan district.
Office of the State Auditor
This is a website where you can search for audits or audit exemptions filed by a metropolitan district. Unless the metropolitan district is exempt (for example, the metropolitan district is inactive or has only nominal activity before development has commenced), the metropolitan district must undergo an annual financial audit by an independent auditor.
Maps
Colorado Information Marketplace Map
This is a website where you can search for metropolitan districts using a map similar to Google maps. Clicking on a metropolitan district will provide a link to more information.
Weld County Treasurer
This is a website where you can search properties by address or owner name to find a detailed tax statement identifying which metropolitan district the property is located in.