County budget proposal covers basic services

By JoAn Bjarko
North Forty News

Larimer County's proposed 2008 budget reflects the calm before the storm.

The upcoming year avoids serious cost-cutting measures, but requires employees to pick up a greater share of their health care premiums.

There's enough money to cover the costs for a presidential election year --at $2.75 million it's the highest elections budget in the county's history.

The human services department will receive $2.5 million to address its facilities needs.

The county will continue funding the addition of 30 full-time jobs to the criminal justice staff, a personnel increase approved by county commissioners the middle of this year. Overall, the number of full-time-equivalent county jobs remains about the same at 1,650 because other departments are reducing staff.

The proposed budget of $289 million is scheduled for adoption on Dec. 19. A public hearing is set for Nov. 5 at 6:30 p.m. in the courthouse offices building at 200 W. Oak St. in Fort Collins. The hearing will be televised with accommodations for viewers to call in their questions and comments. The phone number is 498-7016. The community television channels are Fort Collins Channel 14, North County Channel 45 and Loveland-Berthoud Channel 16.

This budget proposal, prepared by County Manager Frank Lancaster, is a 9.1 percent increase from the 2007 budget of $265 million adopted a year ago. The county budget always increases throughout the year as departments obtain state and federal funding, however, and the county will actually spend about $317 million by the end of this year.

Commissioner Glenn Gibson has expressed his concern that the 2008 budget does not begin to address a potential cataclysm in 2015 when a sales tax to operate the county detention center expires. If the funding stream is not replaced before then, the county will be faced with a $15 million annual shortfall.

"We are creating a crisis for the future," Gibson said.

Beginning in 2009, the anticipated shortfall in operating revenue compared with detention center expenses will hit $1.9 million, and sales tax reserve funds will be gone, said Bob Keister, county budget manager.

"We don't have much money in other places we can throw at this," he added. "We will need a solution in place to build the 2009 budget."

If nothing happens, the deficit grows to $3.5 million in 2010.

The three elected commissioners are planning to tackle ideas early next year. One option is to ask voters to continue the existing sales tax rather than let it expire. That option, however, does not address current crowding at the detention center, which was expanded seven years ago.

"It's not just criminal justice issues we're facing," said Commissioner Kathay Rennels. "I think it's going to be a menu of directions."

The county is dealing with unexpected health care bills, as well. This year's health fund required a $2.1 million supplement, and the county expects to see a 30 percent increase in costs next year.

Two years ago, the county decided to self-insure, and then found itself paying for an unusual number of high-cost medical conditions. As a result, county government now pays 93 percent instead of 100 percent of the premium for an individual employee selecting the standard plan. Deductibles have also increased.

The proposed 2008 budget does not address the following issues.

• Inadequate funding for road and bridge infrastructure.
• A need for 15 to 16 additional patrol officers and support staff for those deputies.
• A detention center that has reached capacity.
• Office space and staff for two new judges, which will likely be authorized by the state legislature next year.

The property tax dedicated to county government services is 21.664 mills. The county also collects a voter-approved property tax of 0.75 mill for Foothills Gateway, which will provide about $2.9 million to the nonprofit agency next year.

About 40 percent of what the county collects in property taxes is used to pay for public safety and law enforcement. Twelve percent goes to health and human services, and 8 percent is used for general government and planning.

The budget is available on the county web site at www.larimer.org/budget/2008budget/.

Printed copies are available at the commissioners' office, 200 W. Oak St. Keister is also available to answer questions at 498-7017 or by e-mail at keisterm@larimer.org.

Comments may be sent to the commissioners by e-mail at BOCC@larimer.org or by fax to 498-7006. The mailing address is P.O. Box 1190, Fort Collins CO 80522.