Berthoud Deserves A Vote

Don’t Let 7 Votes Decide 50 Years of Berthoud’s Downtown.

  • All sources of information can be found here.

For more information about the referendum, email BerthoudDeservesAVote@gmail.com.

The Town of Berthoud has approved this citizen-led referendum petition. If 565 signatures are collected, the Downtown Berthoud “Sonoco Building” decision will go to a community-wide vote.

The issue isn’t the project, it’s the process: little public engagement, no defined budget, and unclear legal details. A signature doesn’t take a side; it simply supports letting the whole community decide a long-term decision that affects all of us. Town Boards change. The community stays. The community deserves a vote.

Earlier this year, the Town of Berthoud purchased the 30,000 sq ft “Sonoco Building” in historic downtown Berthoud, east of the tracks and across from the fire station. The building is the largest in Berthoud’s downtown district and is currently occupied by a tenant who has been asked to vacate. The total cost was just over $3 million, funded through a combination of Town funds and federal COVID relief dollars intended to support local economic recovery. The Town Board approved the purchase by simple motion on 11/26/2024, and the Town closed on the property on 4/29/2025.

Since then, the Town Board voted to approve a 30-year lease with a non-commercial partner for 19,000 sq ft of the property at a heavily subsidized rate starting at $0.50 per square foot, with the option to extend the agreement up to 50 years. The lease also permits subleasing to other nonprofits at near market-level rates, raising questions about the long-term use and financial return of a public asset. The Town approved the lease via Ordinance No. 1364 on October 14, 2025. The accompanying lease agreement outlines the full terms.

Public messaging has added confusion. In a recent guest opinion piece published in the Berthoud Surveyor, the Mayor stated that no Berthoud tax dollars were used to purchase this building. This is not true. The Town’s own financial documents and public statements confirm that $715,427.69 came from the Town’s general fund and $2,285,774.68 from COVID relief funds for a total cost of $3,001,202.37. This discrepancy underscores why residents are asking for full transparency before committing millions more to this project.

With 565 signatures, residents can halt the ordinance and bring the issue to a community vote.

We believe Berthoud deserves a vote.

Click on a concern below to learn more:

Overview of concerns

Decades of Private Control Over a Public Asset

  • The Town Board voted to approve a 30-year lease of 19,000 square feet of downtown property to a non-commercial partner at a rate of $0.50 per square foot, with two optional 10-year extensions—potentially locking the Town into a 50-year commitment if all lease options are exercised.
  • The Town gave up its ability to reconsider or not renew the lease after the first 30 years. Only the tenant can choose to end it. Future Town Boards, and future residents, will have no authority to revisit the terms or reassess whether the arrangement still serves the community.
  • This decision deeply concerns us; it will affect our children and the future of downtown for decades. A 30 to 50-year lease severely limits flexibility and risks burdening future generations with outdated solutions to their day’s problems.
  • Right now, almost no commercial buildings are available for sale. Aside from the Bradford building, the only other options are two industrial properties on 2nd Street. Committing 19,000 square feet of our historic downtown to non-commercial use—at minimum for an entire generation—is shortsighted. And when the only available option is to develop raw land, we’re far more likely to see chains move in rather than the independent local businesses that anchor a community.
  • The agreement also references an “Option-to-Buy” provision that could allow the lessee to purchase the property for $215,000 in the future.  Once sold, Berthoud may permanently lose control of downtown’s largest building and which entities operate there.
  • The Town purchased the property using federal funds; it is not clear that the sale of this building, partially or wholly, to another entity is legal or permissible . Entering into such an arrangement without full legal clarity exposes the Town and taxpayers to potential compliance issues and long-term financial risk. Federal COVID relief funds come with strict U.S. Treasury guidelines. 

Once Approved, Control Over Tenants Is Gone

  • Under the current lease terms, the Town would have no authority to approve subtenants once the agreement takes effect. The Lessee has the power to bring in any organization of its choosing under the broad label of “Human or Community Services”, irrespective of the Town’s needs and goals.

  • Because the current lease language removes town oversight, there will always be a possibility for uses that conflict with local expectations or zoning intent.

  • Converting 19,000 square feet of prime downtown space to non-commercial use raises concerns about the Town’s commitment to maintaining a vibrant and economically sustainable district. 

  • Further, without clear boundaries for lessees, sublessee’s and deep community engagement, the Town risks indirectly supporting entities that may not reflect community priorities or comply with state and federal funding rules.

A Generational Downtown Decision Deserves Community Outreach

  • Before moving forward with a 30- to 50-year commitment involving public property, the Town conducted little proactive community outreach. Residents and business owners were not given a transparent opportunity to weigh in on how one of Berthoud’s most prominent downtown buildings should be used.
  • No community needs assessment has been conducted to determine which services or amenities are most needed—such as a senior center, youth center, or other civic priorities. By approving this agreement without that groundwork, the Town has effectively made a generational decision without community input.
  • The absence of an economic impact study also means the Town cannot assess how removing a large portion of downtown from commercial use will affect local vitality, job creation, or the Town’s ability to attract future businesses.
  • We deserve a voice because this project is subsidized by the taxpayers.

Millions in Taxpayer Funding, No Full Budget Released

  • The Town has not released a complete budget for the downtown project, despite committing to fund all core and shell construction, design, and exterior improvements. This leaves the total taxpayer contribution unknown.
  • Public records show the Town has already spent substantial funds on design and engineering without sharing a comprehensive financial plan with residents. Additionally, the Town is forgoing rent from the existing tenant and has discussed paying them to vacate—potentially costing taxpayers up to half a million dollars.
  • Ordinance 1364 authorized these commitments on first reading, with minimal public discussion. Without proper scrutiny, the Town risks advancing a multi-million-dollar project lacking transparency, fiscal accountability, and public consent.

FAQ

  • What is a referendum?
    A referendum is a citizen-initiated petition process that allows a recently approved town ordinance to be placed on the ballot for a community vote. When a valid petition is filed, the ordinance is paused until voters decide whether to keep or reject it.
  • Who can start a referendum?
    Any registered voter who lives within the Town of Berthoud may begin the referendum process.
  • Who may sign the petition?
    Only registered voters of the Town of Berthoud may sign. Each signer must include a handwritten signature, printed name, full residential address, and the date of signing on the petition approved by the Town Clerk.
  • Which ordinances can be challenged?
    Any ordinance except those adopted as an emergency (passed by ¾ of the Board with an emergency clause).
  • What is the deadline to file a referendum petition?
    A referendum petition must be filed within 30 days after the ordinance’s final publication.
  • How many signatures are required?
    A petition must contain signatures from at least 5 percent of the registered electors in Berthoud on the date the ordinance was finally published. The Town Clerk provides that number.
  • What happens after a petition is submitted?
    The Town Clerk reviews the petition within 30 days and issues a written determination of sufficiency or insufficiency. If sufficient, the ordinance is suspended. The Board of Trustees must then either repeal the ordinance or refer it to a town-wide election held 60 to 150 days later.

The referendum process is outlined in the Colorado Revised Statutes, Title 31, Article 11 (Municipal Initiative and Referendum), available at:
https://leg.colorado.gov/colorado-revised-statutes