CBCA - SCFD Reauthorization

What is the SCFD?
Formed in 1988, metro Denver's Scientific and Cultural Facilities District (SCFD) has since supplied over $350 million in funding to more than 300 diverse organizations in the seven metro Denver counties of Adams, Arapahoe, Boulder, Broomfield, Denver, Douglas, and Jefferson.

The SCFD is a sales tax of one penny on every ten dollars, and it funds the culture that strengthens our community and attracts tourism, industry, and an innovative workforce to our region. Its creation by an overwhelming majority of the vote in 1988 is a testament to the broad public support for diverse cultural organizations in our region.

The SCFD annually distributes millions of dollars in tax funds to organizations that provide for the enlightenment and entertainment of the public through the production, preservation, exhibition, or advancement of art, music, theater, dance, zoology, botany, natural history, or cultural history. In 2002, the SCFD distributed $35 million to recipient organizations.

The SCFD has played a critical role in the development of our region's rich cultural landscape, and the organizations funded by the SCFD generated over $1.3 billion in economic activity for the region in 2003. Learn more about the SCFD: download a PDF SCFD Fact Sheet.

Voters Extend SCFD Tax Until 2018
SCFD gained reauthorization in the November 2004 election, extending the 1/10 of 1% sales tax until 2018. The tax was set to expire June 30, 2006. Over 600,000 voters in Adams, Arapahoe, Boulder, Brookfield, Denver, Douglas, and Jefferson counties voted in support of SCFD, which gained approval by 65.7%. In 1988, SCFD firs sought voter approval for an eight-year period and received 74.5% approval. In 1994, it asked for an extension of 10 years and received 57% approval.

As part of the renewal, SCFD will implement changes beginning July 1, 2006 to its boundaries, distributions, and eligibility requirements. These include:
•Including of eastern Adams and Arapahoe Counties and southern Douglas County (excluding Castle Rock and Larkspur);
•Giving power to the Board of Directors to determine eligibility of organizations, and with that they may take into consideration the organizational and financial capacity of the institutions to expend tax dollars to serve the public and achieve the mission of the organization;
•Denver Center for the Performing Arts will move into Tier I and join the Denver Zoo, Denver Museum of Nature and Science, Denver Botanic Gardens, and Denver Art Museum who receive approximately 65% of the tax revenue;
•Tier II organizations will receive 21% of the tax revenue and will include organizations with qualifying incomes of $1.25 million who have been in operation a minimum of five years;
•13.5% of the revenue will be distributed to Tier III organizations who will have to be operating for three years to qualify.