Transcript Golden
December 13, 2012
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A Colorado Community Media Publication
ourgoldennews.com
Jefferson County, Colorado • Volume 147, Issue 2
Cash tight for county budget Approved 2013 budget reflects decrease in revenues By Glenn Wallace gwallace@ourcoloradonews.com The purse strings are tight in Jefferson County, as the county commissioners voted 2-0 to approve a $382.9 million budget for 2013. Commissioners Donald Rosier, District 3, and Faye Griffin, District 1, voted to approve the budget at the Dec. 4 board meeting. District 2 Commissioner John Odom was absent. The adopted 2013 budget — available at www.jeffco.us/budget — includes $3.1 mil-
lion less in operating expenses than the 2012 budget. Those reductions mirror the roughly 1-percent reduction in projected tax revenue for the county. On the day of the budget’s adoption, County Budget Director Tina Caputo warned the two commissioners that she had just received the “December letter” from the county assessor’s office, indicating “an unanticipated slide,” revenues would be $157,257 lower than previously anticipated. The figure was expected to be close to $2 million. Back in October, the county’s budget office, in conjunction with Jeffco department heads, presented a $386.5 million budget, which relied on $24.5 million in reserve and operating fund transfers.
In commission budget talks, commissioners made it plain that they would seek to reduce that figure, and cut that transfer figure down to $20.9 million. “We can’t continue to take at the rate we have been,” Rosier said. Only one member of the audience spoke during the budget approval hearing. Kathy Doyle of Golden criticized the county for not making it clearer to the public just how much money was being spent annually as part of the Jefferson Parkway Public Highway Authority. Caputo said the 2013 budget includes a floating $1.5 million allocation set aside to assist with the parkway. Virtually all staff increase requests were denied for 2013. The budget includes zero salary increases
for county employees. Those employees will have their medical benefit costs rise 5 percent next year, of which the county will cover half. The Sheriff’s Office, the largest county department by expenditure and employee count, had its expenditure budget reduced from the draft budget by $500,000 as well as having several project requests being denied. The commissioners also set mill levy rates for unincorporated Jefferson County at the meeting, opting to keep rates steady by extending a temporary 1.6-mill reduction in place for at least another year. Rosier said that himself, “and the commissioners believe that now is not the time in this economic recession to increase taxes.”
Daniel Guterrec with Naranjo Civil Constructors, right, uses a fresno to smooth out the edges of freshly poured concrete along the last section of the new Clear Creek south side trail in Golden Dec. 5. Photos by Andy Carpenean
A Golden new budget City budget established for 2013-2014 By Glenn Wallace
gwallace@ourcoloradonews. com Golden City Council voted 7-0 to approve a biennial budget for 2013-14. The council’s vote only authorizes the expenditure of the 2013 funds. A separate vote to release 2014 funds will be required in approximately a year’s time. Golden Finance Director Jeff Hansen presented the budget to the council at its Dec. 6 meeting, and said it was “very much similar in amounts to previous years.” The details of the $58,525,000 budget for 2013 remained unchanged from what was proposed and discussed at the council’s Nov. 8 public budget hearing. One public speaker commented on the new budget, John Spice, a representative from the
city’s budget advisory committee. He said he supported the proposed budget, but wanted to add one comment. “We feel we need to maintain what we have before we start spending on new items,” Spice said, referring to the need to maintain existing infrastructure. There was only one comment on the budget by members of the council too, District 1 Councilwoman Saoirse Charis-Graves. “I continue to be concerned about the condition of sidewalks in south Golden along West Colfax,” she said. Charis-Graves noted the current budget has sidewalks and pedestrian improvements are currently not budgeted for that area until 2016, according to the approved city Capital Improvement Plan. Major changes for the city’s 2013 budget includes: The city’s Mill Levy remains steady for 2013. The city’s marketing manager moves from part-time to full time. The addition of a full-time
POSTAL ADDRESS
A new study will look the entire west side of the proposed beltway. Segments 1 and 2 of C-470 and the Northwest Parkway have been completed. Graphic courtesy of Jefferson County
Jeffco takes wide view Study to look at west side of proposed ring road By Glenn Wallace Joel Velasco with Naranjo Civil Constructors directs up to 40-yards of fresh concrete along the last section of the new Clear Creek south side trail in Golden Dec. 5.
staffer to the Human Resources Department to handle hiring for the Police Department, to free up police staff time. The allocation of $25,000 specifically to hire seasonal staff to handle summertime crowds along Clear Creek. The allocation of a 3-percent merit pool salary increase for most city staff. The increase in use fees of five percent for water customers, and 15 percent for wastewater customers.
gwallace@ourcoloradonews. com After decades of looking at the 470 beltway in bits and pieces, Jefferson County is planning on looking at the bigger picture of the entire western half of the ring road. Last week county transportation staff presented a proposal before the Board of County Commissioners, recommending Jeffco hire a consultant to develop a comprehensive and coordinated plan for the western half of the beltway. “The county is interested in an overall solution, as opposed to the segmented looks that have been done to date,” said Jeffco Transportation and Engineering Director Kevin French. The study would encompass the Northwest Parkway in Broomfield, to C-470 west of Santa Fe
Drive. Of the 54-mile stretch, 32 miles are in Jefferson County. Staff recommends the study to help research several Jeffco issues, including the county’s desire to construct the Jefferson Parkway portion (a planned four lane, alltoll freeway section between state highways 128 and 93), congestion and safety issues along U.S. 6 and State Highway 93, ongoing C-470 congestion, and the potential impact to county residents if express toll lanes are added on portions of C-470. The study is anticipated to cost $750,000, to be paid out of the county’s 2013 budget, using funds that have already been set aside for beltway development.
Beltway continues on Page 9
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