Welcome to the Open Boulder website! On the right, you see our mission and values. By scrolling down on the left, you will see the issues we have developed or are following.
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Boulder Votes 2026
Boulder $400M Property Tax Vote
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City Council approved the bond referral of Ordinance 8758— sending it to voters November 3, 2026. Council also approved companion charter amendment Ordinance 8762 that raises the city’s legal debt limit — an estimated jump from a $152.7M limit to $1.55 billion. Learn more before you vote!
Alpine-Balsam Costs
Fire-Adapted Boulder
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According to the U.S. Forest Service’s Wildfire Risk to Communities tool, Boulder ranks in the top 3 percent of communities whose lives, properties, and community assets are at risk due to wildfire. Boulder’s existential risk is that a fast-moving wildfire on its western edge could become a wildfire-initiated community conflagration (WICC). The central vulnerability is not the initial wildfire alone, but the high likelihood of the fire to ignite homes and then spread from structure to structure faster than evacuation and suppression systems can respond, leading to large scale loss of properties and lives.
Performance Auditor for Boulder
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A performance auditor asks the question a financial audit never does: is this program actually working? By evaluating whether public spending delivers the results taxpayers were promised, independent performance audits have uncovered everything from six-figure inefficiencies to nine-figure oversights — often returning several dollars in savings for every dollar invested.
MISSION
Open Boulder advocates for pragmatic policies that are focused on local issues and improve the lives of Boulder residents.
We were formed specifically to improve the effectiveness of local government in Boulder. We have a strong track record of helping to make Boulder more democratic, more inclusive, and more dynamic. We spearheaded ballot measures to create term-limits for city council members and to directly elect our Mayor through ranked choice voting.
VISION
We love Boulder, and recognize that our vibrant and wondrous city is the product of thoughtful intention and is always evolving. Our vision is a Boulder where all are welcome to live, work, play, and contribute.
We support policies and leaders that:
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Focus on practical solutions to our local community’s most pressing problems, with an emphasis on responsible fiduciary management.
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Support good governance and pragmatic policy making with clear goals and measurable outcomes.
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Build city governance that is accountable, transparent, and serves the community equitably.
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Take Action! Proactively addressing critical issues.
OUR PLATFORMS
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Good governance
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Financial responsibility, accountability & transparency
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Community safety & emergency preparedness
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Community vibrancy & affordability