Douglas County Commissioners to Vote on Zebulon Sports Complex Contracts, Financing

Douglas County is two days away from committing public money to the Zebulon Regional Sports Complex, with commissioners set to vote Tuesday on four contracts and a financing resolution that will define the county's fiscal obligations and taxpayer exposure for years to come.

The March 31 special business meeting places four items before the Board of County Commissioners: a programming, design and operations contract with private partner KT Development; an agreement to begin infrastructure installation and site grading at the planned complex near Waterton and Moore Roads in northwest Douglas County's Sterling Ranch area; a financial-consultant contract with Stifel; and a resolution declaring the county's intent to finance the project using Certificates of Participation.

Certificates of Participation are a lease-purchase financing tool commonly used by Colorado counties precisely because they do not require a public vote. They pledge county assets as collateral and spread repayment across future budget years. The March 31 agenda does not disclose the total amount the county intends to finance, nor the repayment term; those specifics are among the first questions taxpayers and credit analysts will want answered before the four votes are cast.

KT Development, identified as the county's private-sector partner, would be responsible for programming, design and operations under the proposed contract, meaning the firm's role spans the complex from conception through day-to-day management. Stifel, brought in as financial consultant, would structure the Certificates of Participation and advise on credit terms. What neither contract publicly guarantees is the cost exposure if site conditions run over budget or if revenue projections from tournaments and facility rentals fall short.

Zebulon has been described by county leaders as a regional sports anchor for youth and adult recreation, envisioned to include indoor courts, ice rinks, multiple outdoor fields, and commercial support facilities across several hundred acres. The county previously approved a land exchange with Sterling Ranch to secure the acreage, and Tuesday's vote would move the project from planning into active grading and infrastructure phases.

For the Sterling Ranch community near Waterton and Moore Roads, the consequences are practical and near-term: construction traffic and land-use changes follow if the board approves. For families driving their kids to tournaments in neighboring counties, Zebulon represents a promise of keeping that spending in Douglas County.

What remains unanswered publicly heading into Tuesday's meeting is the core accountability question: what the county owes KT Development if the project stalls, what revenue benchmarks would trigger renegotiation, and who absorbs the gap if Certificate of Participation obligations outpace what the complex generates. The county is inviting public comment at the March 31 special business meeting; those who want to put those questions on the record will need to be there.