A Luxury Getaway, Courtesy of Taxpayers
On November 5, 2024, Poudre School District (PSD) officials made their case to voters: the district was struggling financially, and without a mill levy increase, essential programs and services would suffer. The message was clear: without new tax revenue, PSD wouldn’t be able to support students properly.
The measure passed on November 6, 2024, securing new funding for the district. But while voters expected that money to go toward classrooms, teachers, or student resources, district officials had other priorities.
Just 19 days later, on November 25, 2024, PSD quietly made an $840 deposit for a multi-day stay at The Broadmoor, a five-star luxury resort in Colorado Springs.
The district’s conference of choice? The Colorado Association of School Boards (CASB) annual gathering—a taxpayer-funded event held at one of the most expensive hotels in the state.
And this wasn’t just any hotel stay. Financial records show that taxpayers covered not just rooms, but valet parking, resort fees, dry cleaning, and even a $6.00 shoe shine.
Voters Were Told the District Was Broke—But Weeks Later, PSD Was Staying at a Five-Star Resort
The Broadmoor is no ordinary hotel. Nestled in the foothills of the Rocky Mountains, the resort boasts world-class dining, a golf course, and spa services. A single room cost taxpayers $168 per night, plus a $32 daily resort fee.
Taxpayers also covered:
- Valet parking at $45 per vehicle (some officials charged two cars to the district).
- Dry cleaning services for PSD attendees.
- A $6.00 shoe shine, because apparently, polished shoes were an essential expense for the conference.
The total cost of the trip exceeded $11,000, with PSD paying for conference fees, hotel stays, meals, and travel expenses—all just weeks after telling voters the district was strapped for cash.
What Is CASB—and Why Are Taxpayers Funding It?
CASB, the Colorado Association of School Boards, is not a student-focused organization. It exists to serve school board members themselves and operates as a lobbying group that advocates for school district interests—often in ways that do not align with taxpayer priorities.
PSD’s records show the district also paid nearly $13,000 in lobbying fees to Mendez, Barkis Legislative Lobbying Firm in October 2024. You read that correctly – a second lobbying firm.
If PSD was truly in financial distress, why was taxpayer money used to send district officials to a luxury conference at a five-star resort?
How Much Did This Cost You?
In total, PSD spent $11,224.24 on CASB-related expenses, including:
- $2,800 for CASB board member conference fees.
- $750 for CASB “policy support” fees.
- $840 Broadmoor hotel deposit—made after the mill levy passed.
- Multiple hotel stays, averaging $350 per person.
- Valet parking, resort fees, and personal services.
- Nearly $500 on a single dinner for the CASB Student Advocacy Group.
These are not teacher salaries or classroom resources—this is district leadership spending taxpayer dollars on luxury accommodations and catered meals while telling voters they needed more money.
The Real Question: Where’s the Transparency?
While families and businesses in Larimer County prepare for higher property tax bills, PSD board members were dining at five-star restaurants and enjoying the perks of a high-end resort—all at public expense.
If the district had committed to classroom improvements, teacher raises, or student resources first, perhaps this spending wouldn’t be so egregious. But that’s not what happened.
Instead, the district immediately committed taxpayer money to a conference at one of the most expensive hotels in the state.
What Can You Do?
Taxpayers have a right to demand accountability. Here’s how you can take action:
📌 Submit a Colorado Open Records Act (CORA) request to uncover additional discretionary spending.
📌 Attend the next PSD board meeting and ask why this spending was approved.
📌 Contact local representatives to push for stricter oversight of school district expenditures.
PSD asked taxpayers for more money. They got it. And within weeks, they were spending it on luxury hotels, valet parking, and even a shoe shine.
It’s time to ask: If the district was truly struggling, why was this spending a priority?