Metro districts are special local governments in Colorado that help build and maintain infrastructure in new neighborhoods.
A metro district (short for metropolitan district) in Colorado is a type of special district established under Title 32 of the Colorado Revised Statutes. These districts are created primarily to finance, construct, and sometimes operate public infrastructure and services in new residential or commercial developments.
Key Features of Metro Districts in Colorado:
- Purpose: They fund and manage infrastructure such as roads, water and sewer systems, parks, recreational facilities, and sometimes even fire protection.
- Formation: Typically formed by developers to support new communities. Once established, they are governed by a board, often initially controlled by the developer but eventually transitioned to residents.
- Funding: Metro districts issue bonds and levy property taxes or fees within the district to repay those bonds. This allows infrastructure to be built without burdening the broader city or county taxpayers.
- Local Control: Residents can vote and serve on the district’s board, giving them a say in how their community is managed.
- Prevalence: As of 2023, there were over 2,300 metro districts in Colorado, and a large majority of new homes in the Front Range are located within one [1].
These districts are especially common in fast-growing areas like the Denver metro region and are seen as a way to ensure that growth pays for itself rather than relying on existing municipal resources.