Water Board Meeting, May 18, 2026

The City of Longmont Colorado Water Board held a meeting on May 18, 2026, focusing primarily on water resource management and related financial policies. A significant portion of the discussion centered on the recommendation to adopt a composite index approach for setting the cash-in-lieu (cash and L) fee, which funds water supply projects. The board reviewed three indices—the Producer Price Index, Consumer Price Index, and Engineering News Record index—to create a more stable and defendable fee structure, moving away from reliance on the volatile Colorado-Big Thompson (CBT) water rights prices. The board agreed to finalize their recommendation for city council in the next meeting. Additionally, the board discussed policies regarding large water users, such as data centers, emphasizing the requirement for such users to bring sufficient water rights to cover their usage. Updates on water conservation efforts, including efficiency programs and educational outreach, were also presented. No contract awards or specific procurement actions were taken during this meeting, but the discussions on cash-in-lieu fee adjustments and water supply project cost indices have implications for future water infrastructure procurement and budgeting.