Responsibility

Due to the conflict of interest and billions of dollars in revenue, statewide Developer controlled Metropolitan Districts (such as Banning Lewis Ranch) require a greater degree of monitoring and oversight. Banning Lewis Ranch has been Developer controlled for almost 20 years.

Municipalities currently have some authority and definitely responsibility for this oversight. Policy and Process Audits of Developer controlled Districts could be conducted every five years (see the City of Colorado Springs 2021 Report for an example of a policy and process audit https://coloradosprings.gov/document/21-18citymetropolitandistrictspolicyreview-final.pdf).

According to that report, “Metro Districts were separate jurisdictions subject to State Statute.” Therefore the state of Colorado and the Municipalities must work together to eliminate future conflict of interest, decision making Developer Districts and to regulate current existing conflict of interest, decision making Developer Districts such as Banning Lewis Ranch.

The results of these periodic audits of existing Developer Districts would then be reported to City Councils (or other governing body of the municipality) and to the district residents.