| NEWS BLOG |
Loveland, February 10, 2012
Thompson Valley EMS (Emergency Medical Services) or just TVEMS is the ubiquitous ambulance and
emergency medical service people living within Loveland and Berthoud fire districts see frequently on local
roads. In an emergency, they are the ones who transport you to the hospital while administering life saving
medical assistance.
TVEMS depends on a 1.716 Mill Levy to fund their service that covers about 100,000 people in a 450
square mile area. They respond to nearly 10,000 calls per year using 55 employees spread across five
stations surviving on an annual $5 million budget.
McWhinney’s Centerra project is a sore subject among the employees of this organization who complain
regularly about the inequity of local property taxes. This is because TVEMS is a special service district that
survives on only two sources of revenue, property taxes and patient fees. Patient fees range between $15
to $600 but may grow in the near future commensurate with Centerra's growth.
McWhinney’s Urban Renewal Districts for Centerra keep approximately 98% of the modest 1.716 Mill Levy
of property taxes collected in their areas meant for TVEMS. In other words, “those folks are getting a free
ride” according to one EMT who asked not to be identified for this story. Historically, the service can be
provided for an average property tax of around $30 per year per home so long as the taxes paid actually go
towards the service and are not diverted.
In 2004, the City of Loveland signed the MFA (Master Financing Agreement) with McWhinney which
includes a plethora of tax subsidies including a massive diversion of sales and property taxes for 25 years
away from local services like TVEMS. That agreement contemplated a limited number of commercial and
residential developments that would be constructed under the agreement serving as a catalyst for non-
subsidized growth in the area to balance the impact.
At the time, TVEMS’ controlling board did not fight against the MFA as the amount of lost tax dollars when
compared to the number of non-subsidized commercial and residential developments expected appeared to
make-up for the virtually tax-free developments. Subsequently, the City of Loveland allowed numerous
amendments to the MFA including a Flex Plan which dramatically changed the agreement. The Flex Plan
passed in September of 2008 allows McWhinney to change the areas of property tax diversion without City
Council approval.
Even earlier, the council began adding by the hundreds and later thousands new residential units into
Centerra without considering the impact to special service districts like TVEMS that need to provide full
service without getting the full Mill Levy for their services. In 2007 the council added 850 new residential
units for Centerra without even consulting the MFA or original assumptions regarding its impact on services.
The combination of the Flex Urban Renewal Authority with additional residential units means McWhinney’s
developments contribute almost nothing in property taxes to local service districts like TVEMS but still
require a full compliment of services.
One former TVEMS Board Member told LovelandPolitics, “I feel stupid at this point for believing Chad
McWhinney. It is like how can this guy act like a used car salesman and screw us with the old bait and
switch trick. But that is exactly what he did ‘cause we were really thinking about all the non-Urban Renewal
tax growth Centerra was supposed to cause.”
Increasing the number of subsidized residential units to the community whose property taxes don’t go to the
school district, county or emergency medical services is a growing problem for local governments that is
getting worse every year. They must expand their services to serve a growing population without the tax
base necessary to provide such services. Therefore, they often choose an increase in fees or taxes for
those who do pay to make-up the difference.
TVEMS now survives on property taxes collected from businesses and residences outside the Centerra
Metro Districts along with “patient fees” collected from people who are transported and treated in an
emergency. Once the jewel of Northern Colorado for emergency medical services, TVEMS is now faced
with increasing population to cover but insufficient funds due to the Centerra Metro Districts. One senior
employee of TVEMS told LovelandPolitics, “We are sliding backwards financially every time McWhinney
builds another project. We need to start cutting services or raising our revenue to make up for that new
loss.”
McWhinney Reported To Have Offered Public Funds To Incentivize Private Buyers
It would be inaccurate to report McWhinney and the Metro Districts they operate never offered any financial
support to TVEMS. The Centerra Metro District did offer public tax dollars but with a curious and possibly
illegal intent, according sources inside TVEMS.
In early 2010 TVEMS was looking to move its headquarters out of a leased facility at the Loveland-Ft.
Collins airport and purchase a permanent location to house their administrative offices and vehicle
maintenance facilities. Among the candidate locations were three parcels shown to them by McWhinney’s
real estate sales team in Centerra. Two of the McWhinney owned properties were vacant lots while a third
was an already constructed building shell.
At the same time, TVEMS leadership was also evaluating properties east of I-25 owned by local developer
Martin Lind. According to sources familiar with the transaction, McWhinney offered an incentive Martin Lind
could not; public money.
According to sources both inside the development community and TVEMS, McWhinney offered a rebate of
$22,000 of diverted TVEMS Mill Levy property taxes collected by Centerra’s Urban Renewal Authority
annually for 20 years. However, this generous offer came with a condition, only if TVEMS bought
McWhinney owned land and not Martin Lind’s competing properties across I-25 in Loveland near
Crossroads Blvd.
It is perfectly legal for the Centerra Metro District board to spend funds on a “public” service like TVEMS but
certainly questionable if the offer is tied directly to the pecuniary interests of McWhinney. Centerra’s board
of directors, according to public audits, is controlled by McWhinney. This clear organizational conflict of
interest creates circumstances where otherwise public funds are being spent and offered solely for the
private financial interests of the McWhinney family and their many companies. see Centerra Enigma story
for more background on McWhinney's control of Centerra's Board
TVEMS decided on Martin Lind’s property after a considerable price reduction and internal conversations
about the offer by Centerra. TVEMS is now located on that parcel at 4480 Clydesdale Parkway in
Loveland.
By early 2011, partly due to his inability to compete with McWhinney public resources, Martin Lind sold
hundreds of properties at auction to liquidate his holdings while keeping his personal residence and several
other investments. McWhinney continues striking deals and seeking new developments with the assistance
of the supposedly public Centerra Metro District board's assistance.
Thompson Valley EMS (Emergency Medical Services) or just TVEMS is the ubiquitous ambulance and
emergency medical service people living within Loveland and Berthoud fire districts see frequently on local
roads. In an emergency, they are the ones who transport you to the hospital while administering life saving
medical assistance.
TVEMS depends on a 1.716 Mill Levy to fund their service that covers about 100,000 people in a 450
square mile area. They respond to nearly 10,000 calls per year using 55 employees spread across five
stations surviving on an annual $5 million budget.
McWhinney’s Centerra project is a sore subject among the employees of this organization who complain
regularly about the inequity of local property taxes. This is because TVEMS is a special service district that
survives on only two sources of revenue, property taxes and patient fees. Patient fees range between $15
to $600 but may grow in the near future commensurate with Centerra's growth.
McWhinney’s Urban Renewal Districts for Centerra keep approximately 98% of the modest 1.716 Mill Levy
of property taxes collected in their areas meant for TVEMS. In other words, “those folks are getting a free
ride” according to one EMT who asked not to be identified for this story. Historically, the service can be
provided for an average property tax of around $30 per year per home so long as the taxes paid actually go
towards the service and are not diverted.
In 2004, the City of Loveland signed the MFA (Master Financing Agreement) with McWhinney which
includes a plethora of tax subsidies including a massive diversion of sales and property taxes for 25 years
away from local services like TVEMS. That agreement contemplated a limited number of commercial and
residential developments that would be constructed under the agreement serving as a catalyst for non-
subsidized growth in the area to balance the impact.
At the time, TVEMS’ controlling board did not fight against the MFA as the amount of lost tax dollars when
compared to the number of non-subsidized commercial and residential developments expected appeared to
make-up for the virtually tax-free developments. Subsequently, the City of Loveland allowed numerous
amendments to the MFA including a Flex Plan which dramatically changed the agreement. The Flex Plan
passed in September of 2008 allows McWhinney to change the areas of property tax diversion without City
Council approval.
Even earlier, the council began adding by the hundreds and later thousands new residential units into
Centerra without considering the impact to special service districts like TVEMS that need to provide full
service without getting the full Mill Levy for their services. In 2007 the council added 850 new residential
units for Centerra without even consulting the MFA or original assumptions regarding its impact on services.
The combination of the Flex Urban Renewal Authority with additional residential units means McWhinney’s
developments contribute almost nothing in property taxes to local service districts like TVEMS but still
require a full compliment of services.
One former TVEMS Board Member told LovelandPolitics, “I feel stupid at this point for believing Chad
McWhinney. It is like how can this guy act like a used car salesman and screw us with the old bait and
switch trick. But that is exactly what he did ‘cause we were really thinking about all the non-Urban Renewal
tax growth Centerra was supposed to cause.”
Increasing the number of subsidized residential units to the community whose property taxes don’t go to the
school district, county or emergency medical services is a growing problem for local governments that is
getting worse every year. They must expand their services to serve a growing population without the tax
base necessary to provide such services. Therefore, they often choose an increase in fees or taxes for
those who do pay to make-up the difference.
TVEMS now survives on property taxes collected from businesses and residences outside the Centerra
Metro Districts along with “patient fees” collected from people who are transported and treated in an
emergency. Once the jewel of Northern Colorado for emergency medical services, TVEMS is now faced
with increasing population to cover but insufficient funds due to the Centerra Metro Districts. One senior
employee of TVEMS told LovelandPolitics, “We are sliding backwards financially every time McWhinney
builds another project. We need to start cutting services or raising our revenue to make up for that new
loss.”
McWhinney Reported To Have Offered Public Funds To Incentivize Private Buyers
It would be inaccurate to report McWhinney and the Metro Districts they operate never offered any financial
support to TVEMS. The Centerra Metro District did offer public tax dollars but with a curious and possibly
illegal intent, according sources inside TVEMS.
In early 2010 TVEMS was looking to move its headquarters out of a leased facility at the Loveland-Ft.
Collins airport and purchase a permanent location to house their administrative offices and vehicle
maintenance facilities. Among the candidate locations were three parcels shown to them by McWhinney’s
real estate sales team in Centerra. Two of the McWhinney owned properties were vacant lots while a third
was an already constructed building shell.
At the same time, TVEMS leadership was also evaluating properties east of I-25 owned by local developer
Martin Lind. According to sources familiar with the transaction, McWhinney offered an incentive Martin Lind
could not; public money.
According to sources both inside the development community and TVEMS, McWhinney offered a rebate of
$22,000 of diverted TVEMS Mill Levy property taxes collected by Centerra’s Urban Renewal Authority
annually for 20 years. However, this generous offer came with a condition, only if TVEMS bought
McWhinney owned land and not Martin Lind’s competing properties across I-25 in Loveland near
Crossroads Blvd.
It is perfectly legal for the Centerra Metro District board to spend funds on a “public” service like TVEMS but
certainly questionable if the offer is tied directly to the pecuniary interests of McWhinney. Centerra’s board
of directors, according to public audits, is controlled by McWhinney. This clear organizational conflict of
interest creates circumstances where otherwise public funds are being spent and offered solely for the
private financial interests of the McWhinney family and their many companies. see Centerra Enigma story
for more background on McWhinney's control of Centerra's Board
TVEMS decided on Martin Lind’s property after a considerable price reduction and internal conversations
about the offer by Centerra. TVEMS is now located on that parcel at 4480 Clydesdale Parkway in
Loveland.
By early 2011, partly due to his inability to compete with McWhinney public resources, Martin Lind sold
hundreds of properties at auction to liquidate his holdings while keeping his personal residence and several
other investments. McWhinney continues striking deals and seeking new developments with the assistance
of the supposedly public Centerra Metro District board's assistance.
LovelandPolitics
| Loveland's Independent News Source |
| Thompson Valley EMS Hit Hard By Centerra Metro Districts Refused McWhinney's Peculiar Offer |
| Links to related stories April 2007 Council approves 850 residential units for Centerra without concern for original agreement. Grand Station was not built but approval remains. Below are stories about the 2008 'Flex URA' Amenmdent expanding McWhinney's Urban Renewal areas by 500 acres and abdicating governmental authority by Loveland's Council August 2008 Loveland attorney Mark Shaffer's call for action in stopping the Urban Renewal Expansion September 2008 Legal issues regarding the 'Flex URA' approved for McWhinney October 2008 Denver law firm speaks to Loveland's Flex URA October 2008 Detailed coverage and analysis of the September meeting where flex URA was approved |
| The new headquarters of Thompson Valley EMS east of I-25 4480 Clydesdale Parkway, Loveland CO. |