11 Comments
User's avatar
Mary Lianne's avatar

Once again, our despotic county commissioners make arbitrary, unreasonable and financially irresponsible decisions without allowing for public input or consideration. No Kings!!!!

Jan Martinez's avatar

It seems this item is placed on the consent agenda because the COMMISSIONERS may feel this is non-controversial and don't wish to debate incentivizing a data center, but perhaps the PUBLIC would find this topic worthy of debate. Shame on the Commissioners.

Susan Buckely's avatar

100% agree Jan! These commissioners do NOT have our best interests in mind. We need to vote these bozos out!

Jill's avatar

We don't need Data centers...we need clean water and clean air. Tax incentives for a business like this are corrupt, at best! The benefits to the community are next to none.

Kathy Dannemiller's avatar

Would like to see the environmental impact study that was done. What is the justification of giving them a tax break for 35 years??

Valentine Carstensen's avatar

This is about the surveillance state overlaying society with socioeconomic control grid. Everyone human being deemed as a charge off will be financially walled in and removed from the balance sheet. This is likely to be 95% of everyone in this DC’s host area.

LJ Guthrie's avatar

Flexential operates four centers in Colorado, and more than 40 across the country. "A single AI-oriented data center can use as much electricity as 175,000 homes. Colorado has more than 60 data centers already, most clustered along the Front Range. Dozens more facilities, some exceeding 160 megawatts of power capacity, are planned or under construction. Xcel projects that by 2040, data centers alone could require 8.5 gigawatts of power, roughly the equivalent of adding another Denver metro area to the grid." Colorado Sun

Caroline Frizell's avatar

Hi there!

Thank you for your coverage of this topic! The Board appreciates community engagement and wanted to share some context regarding the Flexential Corp item ahead of Tuesday’s meeting.

This project is led by the Town of Parker, and Douglas County is working in coordination with the Town to support economic growth in our shared community. To align with local municipal development efforts, the County applies its standing policy to offer relief from the County's portion of the Business Personal Property Tax—an unfair tax that taxes businesses over and over on the exact same piece of equipment after sales tax has already been paid.

Recipients continue to pay 100% of their real property tax obligations, generating direct revenue for local infrastructure and schools while delivering lasting value to our local tax base.

Because this item follows an established intergovernmental framework and standard Board policy, it is listed under the Consent Agenda. Public input is always reviewed—you can send your comments directly to BOCC@douglasco.gov.

I am the Director of Communication and Community Engagement posting the above on behalf of the Board of Douglas County Commissioners. I welcome any and all media inquiries to my direct email at cfrizell@douglasco.gov.

Kim Turnage's avatar

Caroline, I understanding you are posting on behalf of / at the direction of the Commissioners. Thank you for commenting. It's a privilege that has not been extended to many residents of our county in the BOCC's public meetings. Emails to the BOCC also frequently go unanswered. Would you be able to help answer a couple of questions?

1. Is this standing policy to provide relief from the Business Personal Property Tax extended to all businesses operating in Douglas County?

2. If not, what criteria do the Commissioners use to decide whether or not to provide such relief, and where might one find a record of the public meeting in which they would evaluate those criteria?

3. Since this is essentially a tax incentive for business development in the county, is it standard practice to provide relief from the business personal property tax as construction nears completion, or is that typically done in the planning and negotiation stages of a project?

Carolyn Williamson's avatar

Thank you, Kim. Well, Caroline??? The constituents of Douglas County are eagerly awaiting your response and transparent communication.

Carolyn Williamson's avatar

With all respect, Caroline, emails can be deleted. How about you respond right here on this platform so all the concerned citizens of Douglas County can see your answer.