Boulder County - Sustainability

The total proposed budget for 2010 is estimated at $280 million. (For 2009, the adopted budget was $286,866.). Assessed property values in Boulder County increased 4 percent in 2009 over 2008, but sales and use taxes were down in the same period. The proposed budget takes into account the decline in tax revenues overall in Colorado and reflects the county’s historically conservative approach to managing public funds even in a year of projected increases in property tax revenue.

At a public meeting on Nov. 5, following five weeks and more than 20 hours of public budget request hearings by county offices and departments, the Boulder County Board of Commissioners provided their list of recommended expenditures for 2010 to the County Budget Office. The budget staff will present the preliminary proposed budget during the hearing on Thursday.

“The 2010 budget that we’re proposing reflects the same careful management of county funds that we’ve enjoyed for many decades in Boulder County,” said Commissioner Cindy Domenico at the Nov. 5 public meeting. “As in the past, we remain committed to the kind of careful stewardship of public dollars that our residents expect from us year over year.”

With property values assessed every two years, the latest assessment in May 2009 will affect county budgets in 2010 and 2011. Although assessed property values are up 4 percent this year in Boulder County, there remains some uncertainty in projections for the next bi-annual county valuation assessment of residential and commercial properties. Additionally, sales tax projections in the county are down 8 percent this year over last year.

The uncertainty in the trend of revenues for tax years 2012 and 2013, coupled with the severe and immediate cuts to the state government budget and increasing needs for human services across the county, has prompted the county commissioners to limit the amount of expenditures in 2010 that have an ongoing obligation for future years.

“Our strategy in Boulder County during a tough economic time like this one is to favor one-time expenditures that address immediate needs in the county and fund necessary improvements versus putting extended obligations on the county’s base operating budget ,” commented Commissioner Will Toor on Nov. 5. “We believe that this strategy will help us ride out this period of economic uncertainty without hindering our ability to provide essential core services for residents and to continue to make sustainable investments in our county facilities and programs.”

For 2010, this approach means turning down or postponing a number of worthy budget requests by county officials and department heads, and retaining employee salaries at the 2009 base rate.

“We appreciate the tremendous restraint shown by our county offices and departments this year when making requests for 2010 expenditures,” remarked Commissioner Ben Pearlman. “By not over-extending obligations to future years, our proposed budget for 2010 keeps us in line with expected revenues for next year and buffers us against any potential downturn in property values over subsequent years.”

All three commissioners praised the hard work and dedication of employees in the Community Services and Housing and Human services divisions who have seen a tremendous increase in caseloads and requests for services such as: basic needs of food clothing and housing; unemployment and workforce assistance; early childhood education; home foreclosure prevention and consumer debt counseling; public transportation subsidies; and other services as a result of the economic downturn.

Human Services: Critical spending cuts at the state level coupled with a growing need locally for human services has squeezed the ability for county governments to meet basic needs of struggling families and individuals. In order to help keep up with increasing demands for services, the commissioners have dedicated an additional $1.3 million in social services expenditures, including mental health services, from the general fund to help address the increased caseloads of individuals and families seeking help in this difficult economic climate.
Support for non-profits: Local non-profits are also experiencing greater demands for services due to current economic conditions. Providing financial support for these organizations ensures that vital basic needs are met while tapping into the efficiencies and expertise of the non-profit community. As allotted for by 2005 Ballot Issue 1A*, the commissioners have proposed an additional $276,878 in funding in 2010 to non-profits from the general fund.
Public Safety: In order to help make up for a $337,877 shortfall in the sales and use tax-derived Offender Management Fund, the commissioners have obligated that same amount from the general fund to help continue to support the Integrated Treatment Court, Partners for Active Community Engagement, and other public safety measures programs aimed at reducing jail overcrowding and criminal recidivism. In addition, the Boulder County Sheriff’s Office will receive $48,300 in funding to provide vests and other protective gear to their SWAT team members, $11,388 to buy a bomb and ammunition disposal trailer, and $25,000 for a Communications Microwave system in Eldora to provide better law enforcement and fire fighting communications in the mountainous areas around Nederland.
Facility Repairs & Improvements: Aging heating and cooling systems in several county buildings will be replaced with more energy efficient systems, resulting in lower energy consumption and reduced utility bills over time. Additional one-time expenditures for aging structures include roof replacements, fire sprinkler repairs, exterior and interior coatings and repairs, and sewer line replacements. The total cost of these improvements is expected to be $760,000.
Fairgrounds Improvements: In order to help accommodate a growing demand for vendor space and consumer activity at the Longmont Farmer’s Market, the county will invest $150,000 in upgrades to the north fairgrounds parking lot to allow additional space for vendors to set up at the Saturday market and to provide vendors access to electricity at the site. An additional $250,000 in drainage improvements will be made to the fairgrounds parking areas overall to improve conditions at that site.
Sustainability: In accordance with specifications outlined in the 2005 Ballot Issue 1A*, the county continues to invest annually in sustainability-related projects that benefit both county facilities and communitywide programs. These expenditures include efforts to decrease energy consumption countywide and to reduce costs to maintain county facilities. In 2009, the county realized a savings in energy costs in the amount of $350,000 due to energy reduction strategies implemented over the course of the year. Some of the county facility improvements proposed for 2010 have a 100% payback projection in as few as three years, and all are aimed at energy and water reduction strategies that will save money and the use of resources year over year. Additional sustainability measures are expected to be paid for out of the potential $6.1 million in Qualified Energy Conservation Bond sales made possible by the passage of Ballot Issue 1C in the 2009 Coordinated Election.
Technology Upgrades: New, one-time investments in software and hardware purchases at Boulder County in 2010 will help the county achieve greater technology efficiency through: more paperless operations and storage; increased optical fiber capacity; improved database and mobile communications; and better document and photo imaging capabilities. These improvements are budgeted to cost $284,000 in 2010.

A breakdown of budgets by spending area will be available at the public meeting on Nov. 12 where public comment will be taken starting at 9 a.m. The Board of County Commissioners will adopt the final budget at 10 a.m., Thursday, Dec. 15.

* Boulder County’s projected 2010 budget continues to be influenced by the passage of 2005 ballot issue 1A that allows for the retention of property tax revenues collected in excess of the TABOR limitations on fiscal year revenues and spending. Ballot issue 2005-1A designated certain uses for the property tax revenue received in excess of the base year 2005 property tax revenues. In compliance with those designations, the 2010 budget will appropriate in excess of the following required increases: Public safety services 30%, health and human services 20% with 33% of that amount going to non-profit organizations, and sustainable and renewable energy programs receiving 6.67%.

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