2022 Proposed Climate Tax
Boulder taxpayers have supported the city’s climate work for decades, contributing about $4 million annually to climate and sustainability programs. Early next year, a portion of this funding is set to expire, creating a gap in funding.
To close this gap, the city is proposing the creation of a new climate tax. As designed, the new climate tax would raise approximately $6.5 million per year to fund climate and resilience efforts. If approved by council, the climate tax would require voter approval in the November election.
Funding Proposal: New Climate Tax
By creating a new climate tax,Continue reading
Boulder taxpayers have supported the city’s climate work for decades, contributing about $4 million annually to climate and sustainability programs. Early next year, a portion of this funding is set to expire, creating a gap in funding.
To close this gap, the city is proposing the creation of a new climate tax. As designed, the new climate tax would raise approximately $6.5 million per year to fund climate and resilience efforts. If approved by council, the climate tax would require voter approval in the November election.
Funding Proposal: New Climate Tax
By creating a new climate tax, the city can simplify climate investments, tackle high-impact projects, better align with the scale of investment necessary and address inequities created by the current tax.
Tax Proposal Details
Note: Details subject to City Council changes.
New climate tax to be collected 2023 to 2040
Replace existing taxes that fund climate work
Fund climate and wildfire resilience projects
Continue to collect tax on Xcel Energy utility bills
Raise revenues by approximately 6.5 million per year
Change rates for customer classes
Proposed Changes to Average Annual Costs, By Customer Type
Customer Type | Current Annual Cost (CAP + UOT) | Proposed Annual Cost (Climate Tax) |
Residential | $42.95 | $49.66 |
Commercial | $292.42 | $487.37 |
Industrial | $1,084.11 | $1,806.85 |
Total Revenue for Climate Efforts | $3.9 million | $6.5 million |
What would it fund?
If approved, revenues from this tax would support ongoing and new climate and resilience projects. Those could include:
- Direct cash assistance to homeowners, landlords and businesses to fund energy efficiency upgrades
- Projects such as microgrids and energy storage to support resilience and renewable energy development
- Residential and commercial building electrification
- Expansion of transportation electrification projects and electric vehicle charging stations; and
- Advancement of natural climate solutions.
Wildfire resilience projects could include:
- Funding for a dedicated fire risk assessment team;
- Grants to support residential wildfire risk prevention measures like vegetation management, fence reconstruction and roofing/siding replacement;
- Strategic undergrounding of power lines; and
- Ecosystem restoration
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How is climate change impacting you?
11 months agoWe want to know how climate change is impacting members of our community.
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How should the city spend the Climate Tax?
10 months agoIf the Climate Tax passes, where should the city direct the funds? What projects or programs should the Climate Tax support?
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City climate action ideas
11 months agoShare your ideas for how the city could leverage its resources to address the climate crisis in an equitable way.
Pinecone10 months agoCity buildings
Convert city buildings to high-efficiency all-electric
0 comment0Sid11 months agoIncrease the number of transit oriented developments
Increased density around transit with mixed use developments will reduce car dependence, reduce carbon emissions, and reduce congestion.
0 comment0Pinecone10 months agoAll-electric buildings
Update your building code to require new construction to be high-efficiency all-electric
0 comment0Sattva12311 months agoBan private small aircraft from flying over wildfire at-risk areas
Small aircraft pose a constant wildfire threat to Boulder, as evidenced by the tragic events of July 17th where a small plane crashed in Boulder and started a wildfire. Just a few months prior, a small plane flying on a Red Flag day started a fire in Broomfield. One thing that can be done with current resources is ban small air craft from flying over at-risk areas in Boulder to prevent another wildfire as what happened today.
0 comment0ryanv11 months agoReduce long commutes and the jobs/housing imbalance by allowing fourplexs to be built on any lot in the city.
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Who's Listening
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Director of Climate Initiatives
JK -
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LK