LID sales tax sets new high

Sales tax revenue for the Niwot LID set new records in 2019, and the record-setting month and year were attributed to online sales rather than increased marijuana sales.

Bruce Rabeler, treasurer of the Niwot Local Improvement District (LID) reported that December sales tax revenue came in at $26,357. “That shatters the record for one month,” Rabeler said, noting that it exceeded the previous high of $19,102 set in July 2019, and was $8,000 over any previous December.

The annual sales tax revenue for 2019 totaled $209,465. “[This] is the first time we’ve ever had yearly revenue over $200,000 and is 12.2 percent over 2018’s revenue total of $186,651,” Rabeler said. “That increase can be attributed primarily to retail sales. Retail tax revenue this December was $13,820, which is up from $8,243 in 2018.”

LID members were cautiously optimistic as large errors in state reporting in the past have reflected large increases, which were later corrected and withdrawn. Local business owners reported that their retail sales had been relatively flat for the last year, and speculation centered on the possible effects of online sales generating more sales tax revenue.

The LID budget is based upon 80% of the prior year’s revenue, and the 2019 funding requests were reimbursed in the amount of $131,845.61, just under the $132,854 budget. Rabeler cautioned that some adjustments may be made in the final numbers, but reported that the reserve fund is now approximately $220,619.69.

LID Chair Laura Skaggs welcomed new Niwot Business Association president Eric Bergeson as the newest member of the LID Advisory Committee. Bergeson takes the place of Anne Postle, who resigned as the NBA representative in January.

Skaggs then entertained five funding requests from the NBA. Chuck Klueber of the Streetscapes Committee presented requests for parking lot property mowing ($1,500), installation of three new sculptures in the Niwot Sculpture Park and Outdoor Gallery at 79th Street and Niwot Road ($2,000), replacement batteries for the Niwot monument sign on Highway 119 ($1,885), purchase of flowers for Cottonwood Square Shopping Center and 2nd Avenue businesses ($8,670) and maintenance and watering of the flowers ($12,830).

All were approved unanimously, with most of the discussion centered around the Sculpture Park request. Skaggs noted that she was a member of the Sculpture Park Committee, but had recently resigned. She questioned the multiple funding requests submitted for the Sculpture Park, including previous requests to fund maintenance of the trees along 2nd Avenue and the Christmas Tree in the park, landscaping for the new phase 2 installations in the park, and maintenance for the park.

After a lengthy discussion, the LID suggested that it would be helpful to have an annual budget presented for the Sculpture Park describing anticipated funding requests. An update of the Strategic Plan for the LID was also discussed, with a date to be scheduled in the future.