Citizens representing a broad cross section of interests and communities in Fremont County got a first hand look at jail overcrowding and fiscal issues facing the County at a June 1st gathering. Fremont County Sheriff Jim Beicker and the Fremont County Commissioners convened the meeting at the new 96 bed county jail to discuss the county's fiscal problems and present a plan to open the new jail and address road maintenance needs.
Over 60 citizens from Penrose to Howard and Williamsburg to the Tallahassee area were on hand to offer feedback and their own ideas on what kind of revenue questions should be prepared for the November ballot.
Commissioner Ed Norden said that Sheriff Beicker and the Commissioners have been meeting regularly in recent weeks discussing ways to help the Sheriff get through the current 2006 budget year and beyond. Norden said the plan targets July 1, 2007, as the date to begin moving inmates into the new jail and to complete that effort by October 1st, 2007, by staffing the new jail with seventeen detention officers so that all 96 beds can eventually be filled. Norden said the plan calls for leasing perhaps 40 to 50 of the beds in the first couple of years to produce revenue to help offset the costs. But with the possibility of Fremont County needing those jail beds for incarcerating its own inmates, the Sheriff and Commissioners have estimated it will take $1.5 million per year to staff and operate the new jail.
The Commissioners explained that deteriorating conditions of county roads would be addressed in a five year road improvement plan that was assembled last fall by the county road foremen and shop supervisor. To finance those needs the Commissioners said it's estimated it would take about $850,000 in the first year plus the cost of inflation in subsequent years.
Commissioner Mike Stiehl offered details as to how Fremont County got into its current financial predicament. Stiehl noted that since 2004 Fremont County government has lost $750,000 in specific ownership taxes from motor vehicle registrations. He said the new mill levies that voters approved for new school construction in Canon City and Florence redistributed more specific ownership taxes to the RE-1 and RE-2 School Districts. Stiehl said the county also had to cover a shortage in contingency funds in the Human Services budget when the State of Colorado cut monies to the counties. Stiehl said those revenue shortfalls combined with spiraling inmate medical costs and fuel costs has led to a situation where Fremont County ended 2005 with only $291,000 in cash reserves in the general fund. Stiehl warned that another wildfire like Iron Mountain in 2002 would wipe out the reserves and the county would be broke.
The Commissioners said approval of a half cent sales tax last year in Florence may prevent the county from seeking a half cent sales tax of its own. That's because state law limits total sales tax collections to 6.9 percent in any jurisdiction and that limit has been reached in Florence. The Commissioners said the only options left would be to consider expanding the existing county sales tax to include food sales or to ask voters for a property tax increase. Stiehl noted that Fremont County's 12.9 property tax mill levy is one of the lowest county mill levies in Colorado. An option of placing a sunset provision on any new tax was also discussed. Several citizens said they thought sunseting a tax for the needed revenue was not a good idea.
The Sheriff and Commissioners were also told that any plan for new revenue should also address patrol needs in the Sheriff's department to find a way to increase Sheriff's patrols in western Fremont County.
Several citizens among the group of 65 agreed to attend future meetings to help guide the Commissioners, the Sheriff, and the Road Department in devising a specific plan for a ballot question that could be taken to the voters in November.
Over 60 citizens from Penrose to Howard and Williamsburg to the Tallahassee area were on hand to offer feedback and their own ideas on what kind of revenue questions should be prepared for the November ballot.
Commissioner Ed Norden said that Sheriff Beicker and the Commissioners have been meeting regularly in recent weeks discussing ways to help the Sheriff get through the current 2006 budget year and beyond. Norden said the plan targets July 1, 2007, as the date to begin moving inmates into the new jail and to complete that effort by October 1st, 2007, by staffing the new jail with seventeen detention officers so that all 96 beds can eventually be filled. Norden said the plan calls for leasing perhaps 40 to 50 of the beds in the first couple of years to produce revenue to help offset the costs. But with the possibility of Fremont County needing those jail beds for incarcerating its own inmates, the Sheriff and Commissioners have estimated it will take $1.5 million per year to staff and operate the new jail.
The Commissioners explained that deteriorating conditions of county roads would be addressed in a five year road improvement plan that was assembled last fall by the county road foremen and shop supervisor. To finance those needs the Commissioners said it's estimated it would take about $850,000 in the first year plus the cost of inflation in subsequent years.
Commissioner Mike Stiehl offered details as to how Fremont County got into its current financial predicament. Stiehl noted that since 2004 Fremont County government has lost $750,000 in specific ownership taxes from motor vehicle registrations. He said the new mill levies that voters approved for new school construction in Canon City and Florence redistributed more specific ownership taxes to the RE-1 and RE-2 School Districts. Stiehl said the county also had to cover a shortage in contingency funds in the Human Services budget when the State of Colorado cut monies to the counties. Stiehl said those revenue shortfalls combined with spiraling inmate medical costs and fuel costs has led to a situation where Fremont County ended 2005 with only $291,000 in cash reserves in the general fund. Stiehl warned that another wildfire like Iron Mountain in 2002 would wipe out the reserves and the county would be broke.
The Commissioners said approval of a half cent sales tax last year in Florence may prevent the county from seeking a half cent sales tax of its own. That's because state law limits total sales tax collections to 6.9 percent in any jurisdiction and that limit has been reached in Florence. The Commissioners said the only options left would be to consider expanding the existing county sales tax to include food sales or to ask voters for a property tax increase. Stiehl noted that Fremont County's 12.9 property tax mill levy is one of the lowest county mill levies in Colorado. An option of placing a sunset provision on any new tax was also discussed. Several citizens said they thought sunseting a tax for the needed revenue was not a good idea.
The Sheriff and Commissioners were also told that any plan for new revenue should also address patrol needs in the Sheriff's department to find a way to increase Sheriff's patrols in western Fremont County.
Several citizens among the group of 65 agreed to attend future meetings to help guide the Commissioners, the Sheriff, and the Road Department in devising a specific plan for a ballot question that could be taken to the voters in November.