This story was first published at Colorado Community Media.
CASTLE ROCK | The Douglas County Board of County Commissioners will ask county voters to change the structure of the county by becoming a home-rule county.
A relatively small part of Aurora is encompassed by Douglas County.
Colorado Statute determines the form and function of county government. A home rule charter would allow Douglas County government to be more flexible in addressing certain local challenges.
“We will no longer sit back while the state government dictates policies that undermine our values, jeopardize our safety and make it harder for hard-working families to afford to live and thrive here,” said County Commissioner Abe Laydon.
Douglas County would not be the first in the state to have a home rule charter. Broomfield, Denver, Pitkin and Weld counties operate under home rule charters. Additionally, multiple municipalities, including some in Douglas County such as Castle Rock and Parker, are governed under home rule charters.
According to the State Statute, home rule status would allow Douglas County to have statutory authority and statutory exemptions over entities such as public health and safety, structure of government, opting out of state property tax reductions, local fees and licensing and more.
Some examples include allowing the county to set its own criminal charges and bonding for crimes committed in the county, appoint judges and take its own approach to tax notifications, Laydon said.
Douglas County has taken a stand against illegal immigration and supports immigration reform as reported previously by the Douglas County News Press. Jeff Garcia, the county attorney, said transitioning to a charter would open up opportunities to contract with any federal law enforcement agency, such as the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
Many of the elected officials and local leaders who came to support the resolution on Tuesday agree that there is a disconnect between the priorities at the State Capitol versus Douglas County.
“Government should be a partner in prosperity, not an obstacle,” Laydon said.
Douglas County Sheriff Darren Weekly said that having more control over the county is not a political issue; rather, a safety issue and is in the best interest for all county residents.
Citing homelessness, property taxes and how immigration policies have put strains on schools, hospitals and law enforcement, Laydon said that much of criminal justice reform prioritizes criminals over victims.
“For too long, we have watched as reckless state policies have made Colorado less safe, less affordable and less free,” Laydon said.
With issues like public safety and property taxes that are of local interest but controlled by the state, County Commissioner Kevin Van Winkle believes that a home rule charter can be a pivotal opportunity for residents to gain more control over their local governance.
“We must decisively step away from Denver’s misguided leftist policies, which prioritize ideology over practically, erode individual freedoms and burden our communities with unsustainable costs,” said Van Winkle. “It’s time to chart a course rooted in common sense and the values that build this state.”
With the approval of the resolution, the county initiated a nine-step process to develop its own home rule charter, which involves dividing the county into three districts as determined by the existing commissioner districts, and forming a proposed commission which will hold meetings to determine what will be drafted in the charter. These meetings will be open to the public, and will be in addition to three public meetings that will focus on public comment.
On June 24, Douglas County voters will be asked whether the county should form a charter commission, which would consist of 21 members, according to information provided by the county.
After the commission accepts the final draft of the proposed charter, voters will be asked whether they approve of the home rule charter in the November election.
“With this resolution to bring a ballot initiative to our voters, we have a remarkable opportunity to empower our citizens with the ability to shape their own futures, make decisions that matter and tailor their county government to fit their unique needs,” Laydon said.
To be notified of meetings or to sign up for email notifications, visit tinyurl.com/DougCo-County-Charter.
It’s Douglas County; what could go wrong? I’ve been watching the ongoing chaos in the county since I moved here. Any time you have some folks with a “my way or the highway” agenda, you’re gonna have issues. We’ll see if it works…
Absolutely agree. This is a terrible idea with a bunch of greedy men trying to make a name for themselves.
Misguided Denver leftist policies – definitely voting against this move
Douglas County Officials are not worried about making living there more affordable! Safety, public health, financial well-being, is not of concern to these low level wanna be DC politicians! They’re corrupt, greedy, self serving, narcissistic liar’s, just like the rest of them!!
They are not wanna be DC politicians. They were elected into office by Douglas County residents by a wide margin. Ive met them all and they are all good people and about as far from your description as you can be.
Again rich white people trying to make more money is how all is looking and saying this group people need go out and stop asking for changes will affect all Colorado they need stop trying to separate areas because they think they better or rich I hope the state Colorado don’t do that o fallow this group Rich white people less b together help all this people is need it homes food and help whit drugs problems Rich don’t help no one they just want get more rich and strong stop this group people and say no
Anything good old Abe and George are for I am against. If this passes I bet the home rule charter removes commissioner term limits so these clowns can stay in office.
This says corruption all over it
It seems like maybe using the term “misguided leftist policies” seem to be a stumbling block that is preventing people from the actual subject line. I know that the citizens of Douglas Co as a whole would never agree to some of the policies that a very small minority of voters have as indicated by the huge difference in the number of people who voted for the “rights” policies, I also am convinced that the small number of those who claim to disagree with them are simply determined to be against anything the current administration mentions. If they said that they wanted to protect illegal immigrants, allow men to compete with women in sporting events, ignore the safety of American citizens, and spend unimaginable amounts of money on things ranging from studying the sex life of quails who are addicted to cocaine, the menstrual cycles of transgenders who do not have ovaries, uteruses or the ability to have a menstrual cycle the ones that are jumping up and down to defend these insane subjects would admit that it is ludicrous. I personally don’t care if the people who would take the time to even contemplate such things are left, right, middle or what. They are INSANE. There is no way to rationalize the fact that our hard earned money was spent on such things when I am sure that every single one of us could list off many,many ideas that they would much rather have their money spent on. Such as things that would actually make our country a better place to live. No matter how “great” it is or was it can always be better. For EVERYONE, regardless of what your political affiliation is. I would be happy if we could simply stop bitching about our bruises and be grateful for our blessings. Everyone has both. We are all living with one commonality, NONE of us will ever leave this planet alive. It would be greater to stop the childish drama and doing everything possible to be as opposed or offended for someone that is literally trying to make life better for us. Even if we don’t all agree with the things he is doing to bring this change I haven’t seen anyone who commented or who is holding the massive protests do one thing to achieve something that we all want which is to be happy. While everyone has a different picture of what happy looks like, the fact that we are all the same species is proof that there are definitely some things we have in common. Can we please just begin to focus on that? And maybe to stop disagreeing simply on principle. That is something both sides could do with a lot less effort than the amount they are spending to do all the things that are happening to show their level of unhappiness.
Ive been living in Douglas County for 45 years and feel very fortunate to have our three great commissioers taking care of us and saving our county from the madness up in Denver. You want to pay 80 million dollars for hotel rooms and free food for illegal immigrants violent gang members then move to that shit hole Denver with its stupid mayor.
Ive been living in Douglas County for 45 years and feel very fortunate to have our three great commissioers taking care of us and saving our county from the madness up in Denver. You want to pay 80 million dollars for hotel rooms and free food for illegal immigrants violent gang members then move to that shit hole Denver with its stupid mayor.