Jefferson County looking into ballot initiatives

Earlier today, commissioners discussed potential ballot language that would allow #Jeffco to "de-Bruce," i.e. retain funding that exceeds the #TABOR limit instead of returning the money to taxpayers. #Jeffco is considering a #TABOR related ballot initiative. Initial reporting: www.canyoncourier.com/content/county-briefs-7

Heads up, #Jeffco: Interested in sharing your thoughts about a potential election in @JeffcoColorado? Plan to attend a public hearing at 8 a.m. July 23 in Hearing Room 1 at the county building in Golden.
@MyMountainTown

Pick up tomorrow's edition of the Canyon Courier for a quick story on the preliminary ballot language discussed by the county during a staff briefing this morning. The measure, if approved, would provide #TABOR relief.

Financial Challenges for Jeffco

Jefferson County has a reputation as a wonderful place to live, visit, and conduct business. However, the quality services the county provides to residents and local businesses come at a cost. Taxpayer dollars allow the county to deliver vital services but continued increasing demand for services has created a significant financial challenge.

Jefferson County is working to trim its budget by $16.1 million dollars in the next year to balance the budget and maintain an appropriate reserve fund. To achieve this, the county is starting by requiring budget reductions for 2020 across all offices, departments and divisions whose budget is impacted by the General Fund.

For more information on the budget and process, budget hearings are open to the public and the community can also see the county’s Financial Transparency Portal on its website, which includes more information on the budget. You can also always reach out to your county commissioner – find your commissioner’s contact information on the Board of County Commissioner’s website.

Watch the July 16, 2019 BOCC Hearing, and previous meetings, on our Jeffco Board of County Commissioners 2019 Meeting Agendas Topic here.

Commissioners to discuss ballot initiative for TABOR relief

Preliminary ballot language, discussed in a staff briefing on Tuesday, earmarks the additional money for public safety, road maintenance and construction, maintenance of public facilities and providing services for Jeffco residents.

Although the county-authorized mill levy is 21.478 mills, the county in 2019 adopted a mill levy of 18.239 to ensure it stayed within the TABOR limit. As such, a property owner with a home worth $400,000 currently receives a property tax reduction of $9 a month or $105 a year. If voters approved a “de-brucing” measure, the county could keep this money.

Doing so would result in an additional $30 million, though the county is debating limiting the amount it can retain to $16.1 million.

Read more here: www.canyoncourier.com/content/commission...tiative-tabor-relief
By Deborah Swearingen
Tuesday, July 16, 2019

Is it time to de-Bruce Jeffco? Tell us your thoughts!

Jeffco is a great place to live, work and play – and we want to keep it that way!

However, our county is facing $16.1 million in budget cuts in 2020. Those cuts include the potential loss of 640 county jail beds over the next two years, resulting in the early release of felons and no place to house inmates from surrounding cities.

What gives? The economy is strong. The population is booming. Other counties are thriving. Why is Jeffco behind?

The county’s work – public safety, roads and more – is funded largely by property taxes. Jeffco is one of only a handful of counties that has not yet de-Bruced or asked voters to keep dollars above our TABOR cap. TABOR limits what the county can collect and spend. The result: the demand is outpacing revenues – even with cost-saving efforts.

Jeffco commissioners will consider ballot language on Tuesday, July 23, that would ask Jeffco voters whether to de-Bruce to fully fund critical services:
• public safety,
• road maintenance and construction,
• maintenance of public facilities, and
• other services for Jeffco residents.

No decision has been made, and your county commissioners want to know your opinion!

Please join us on July 23 at 8 a.m. in the Hearing Room on the first floor of the Jeffco Administration and Courts Building at 100 Jefferson Parkway in Golden to share your thoughts during public comment!

Can’t attend? Email the commissioners here.

Read more about the county’s budget challenges here.

With warm regards,

Lesley Dahlkemper
Jefferson County Commissioner

Office: 303.271.8510
Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Upcoming Event - Please Save the Date:
Evergreen Town Hall with Commissioners Dahlkemper and Tighe, Sen. Story & Rep. Cutter Saturday, August 10
10:30 a.m. - 12 p.m.
Buchanan Rec Center
32003 Ellingwood Trail
Evergreen, CO 80439

Jeffco Board of County Commissioners votes 3-0 to place an initiative on the Nov. 5 ballot to de-Bruce Jeffco with a 7 year sunset and collection of $16.1M in 2020 to address public safety, roads and other essential services. Thanks to all on both sides who spoke to the board!

Jefferson County Commissioners Set Hearing to Consider 2020 Budget Cuts Totaling $16.1 Million

The Jefferson County Board of County Commissioners (BCC) has set its next budget hearing for Tuesday, Oct. 29 and wants to hear from the community on what matters most to them and how they would like to see the county address the budget shortfall. You are encouraged to attend the public budget hearing, which will begin at 8 a.m. and will be held in Hearing Room One, located on the first floor of the Administration and Courts Facility, 100 Jefferson County Parkway. Can't attend? You can watch online at www.jeffco.us/751 .

The proposed budget reflects a 7 percent reduction – or $16.1 million in cuts. As a part of the strategic budget planning process, commissioners and staff worked with elected officials to identify 2020 budget priorities. The BCC also is expected to vote on the revised Fiscal Year 2020 budget submitted by elected officials and department and division directors. Read the full news article at www.jeffco.us/CivicAlerts.aspx?AID=978 .

“These discussions have assisted us in refining our cuts by prioritizing services,” said County Manager Don Davis. “Certainly, public safety is a high priority. However, it is also the greatest portion of general fund expenses and therefore these services will also be affected by these proposed cuts.” Even with additional dollars prioritized by the commissioners for public safety, the budgets that are impacted the most from this reduction in the General Fund are as follows:

The Jefferson County Sheriff's Office will incur approximately a $10 million budget reduction over the next 14 months, leading into the 2021 budget. By January, one floor of the jail will be closed due to reduced staffing levels. By 2021, two floors will be closed, and jail capacity will eventually be reduced by 640 beds. As a result, only certain individuals who are arrested will be able to be detained as mandated, and others who are serving sentences will be released early in accordance with the jail’s overcrowding policy. These changes will have a significant effect on criminal justice policy and, ultimately, the public’s safety.

“I have been responsible with the resources entrusted to me, and will continue to be in the future,” explains Sheriff Jeff Shrader. “However, public safety will suffer as a result of the proposed cuts. We cannot maintain the current level of service with what is effectively a $10 million cut.”

Read more at www.jeffco.us/CivicAlerts.aspx?AID=978

Today's meeting is now beginning: jeffersonco.granicus.com/MediaPlayer.php?view_id=5&event_id=1423

Due to the low turnout and weather, the Board of County Commissioners have unanimously voted to reschedule the budget hearing for November 14th (no BOCC hearing on Nov 5th due to it being Election Day). They mentioned they have received many emails from constituents with their thoughts on the budget, but since this budget requires a $16 million dollar cut, they would prefer to delay the budget presentation in order to encourage Jeffco residents to attend and testify.