METRO DISTRICT TOOLKIT

YOUR GUIDE TO UNDERSTANDING COLORADO’S METRO DISTRICTS

As Colorado grows, so do the questions surrounding how we finance, build, and sustain our communities. Enter metro districts: an important tool that helps fund the roads, parks, water systems, and other essential public infrastructure that make neighborhoods livable—without raising taxes on everyone in town.

But how do they actually work? Who oversees them? And how can residents stay informed and engaged?

We built this toolkit to answer those questions and more.

WHAT'S INSIDE THE TOOLKIT?

This free, easy-to-use guide is your primer on Colorado metro districts—whether you’re a resident, elected official, journalist, or just curious about how new communities are financed.

BEGINNER’S GLOSSARY

Plain-language definitions for the most important metro district terms.

LIFECYCLE OVERVIEW

A visual walk through of how a district forms, evolves, and transitions from developer to homeowner control.

FAQS & MISCONCEPTIONS

Clear answers to the most common questions, plus a myth-busting quiz to help separate fact from fiction.

WHERE THE MONEY GOES

An explainer on how infrastructure gets funded, who pays for what, and how property taxes are used.

WHO’S IN CHARGE

An overview of metro district governance, elections, and transparency laws.

SOCIAL MEDIA GRAPHICS

Pre-made visuals and captions for sharing what you’ve learned with your community.

WHY IT MATTERS

WHY METRO
 DISTRICTS?

With over 2,200 metro districts in Colorado, millions of Coloradans live in—or will live in—communities shaped by this financing mechanism. Whether you're buying your first home, running for a board seat, or advocating for transparency, understanding how metro districts work empowers you to shape your neighborhood’s future.

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Questions? Email Us For More Information.