Source document: https://docs-lawep.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/1696589339088.pdf (United States)
2018 Colorado Local Government Handbook Research Publication No.

719 The following Legislative Council Staff members contributed to this report: Chris Creighton, Fiscal Analyst Anna Gerstle, Fiscal Analyst Vanessa Reilly, Research Analyst Libby Taylor, Constituent Services Analyst This page intentionally left blank.
Introduction This handbook is intended to serve as a resource guide on the role and responsibilities of local governments, including counties, municipalities, special districts, and school districts.
It is divided into the following nine sections:  Section 1 provides an overview of the Colorado Department of Local Affairs;  Sections 2 through 4 describe county governments, municipal governments, and city and county governments;  Section 5 provides an overview of local government land use and planning powers;  Sections 6 and 7 describe special districts and public schools;  Section 8 discusses the initiative and referendum process for local governments; and  Section 9 describes the laws concerning term limits and recall of local elected officials.
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Table of Contents Section I: Overview of Colorado Department of Local Affairs ............................................................................. 1 Section II.
County Governments .............................................................................................................................. 3 Organization and Structure .................................................................................................................................... 3 County Elected Officials ......................................................................................................................................... 3 Salaries of County Officials ................................................................................................................................... 6 House Rule Counties ............................................................................................................................................. 9 County Powers and Responsibilities .................................................................................................................... 9 County Revenue Sources .................................................................................................................................... 10 Revenues and Expenditures ............................................................................................................................... 11 Section III: Municipal Governments ...................................................................................................................... 15 Statutory Towns and Cities
 .................................................................................................................................. 15 Home Rule Municipalities .................................................................................................................................... 17 Annexation ............................................................................................................................................................. 19 Discontinuance of Incorporation ......................................................................................................................... 21 Abandoned Municipalities .................................................................................................................................... 21 Financial Powers of Municipalities ..................................................................................................................... 22 Revenues and Expenditures ............................................................................................................................... 23 Section IV: City and County Governments............................................................................................................ 25 Revenues and Expenditures ............................................................................................................................... 25 Section V: Local Government Use and Planning Powers
 ................................................................................... 29 General Land Use and Planning Laws for Local Governments ..................................................................... 29 Municipal Land Use and Planning Powers ........................................................................................................ 29 County Land Use and Planning Powers ............................................................................................................ 30 Local Governments and the Power of Eminent Domain ................................................................................. 30 Section VI: Special Districts .................................................................................................................................... 33 Types of Special Districts .................................................................................................................................... 33 Organization and Oversight of Special Districts ............................................................................................... 35 Dissolution of Special Districts ............................................................................................................................ 37 Reporting Requirements ...................................................................................................................................... 38 Section VII: Public
 Schools...................................................................................................................................... 41 School Districts ...................................................................................................................................................... 41 Types of Public Schools ....................................................................................................................................... 43 Section VIII: Initiative and Referendum Process for Local Governments......................................................... 45 Section IX: Term Limits and Recall of Local Elected Officials............................................................................ 47 Term Limits ............................................................................................................................................................ 47 Recall ...................................................................................................................................................................... 47 Appendix A: Colorado Municipalities ..................................................................................................................... 49 Appendix B: Colorado School Districts .................................................................................................................. 53 This page intentionally left blank.
Section I: Overview of Colorado Department of Local Affairs The Department of Local Affairs (DOLA) is responsible for supporting Colorado's local communities and building local government capacity through training, technical, and financial assistance.
The divisions of the department serve several purposes for local entities, including: disaster recovery; provision of affordable housing; property tax assessment and collection; training for local government officials; and distribution of state and federal aid for community projects.

In FY 2018-19, the department was comprised of five sections: the Executive Director’s Office, the Division of Property Taxation, the Division of Housing, and the Division of Local Government.
As shown below in Table 1, funding for this department consists of 11.7 percent General Fund, 58.9 percent cash funds, 3.8 percent reappropriated funds, and 25.6 percent federal funds.

Table 1 Department of Local Affairs FY 2018-19 Appropriation (millions) General Fund $37.1 Cash Funds $186.1 Reappropriated Funds $12.1 Federal Funds $80.8 Total Appropriation $316.1 11.7% 58.9% Source: Joint Budget Committee Staff.
3.8% 25.6% 100.0% Cash funds are separate funds received from taxes, fees, and fines that are earmarked for specific programs and typically related to the identified revenue source.
For example, some of the largest cash funds in the department's budget come from the Local Government Severance Tax Fund ($52 million), lottery proceeds credited to the Conservation Trust Fund ($50 million), Local Government Mineral Impact Fund ($48.0 million), Marijuana Tax Cash Fund ($21.6 million), and the Local Government Limited Gaming Impact Fund ($5.1 million).
The following section describes the functions of each division, and Table 2 on page 2 shows the FY 2018-19 appropriations to the department's divisions.

Division of Property Taxation.

The Division of Property Taxation has three primary responsibilities.

First, the division oversees the administration of property tax laws, including issuing appraisal standards and training county assessors.

Second, the division grants tax exemptions for charities, religious organizations, and other eligible entities.
Lastly, the division sets valuations for public utility and rail transportation companies.

The division is managed by the property tax administrator, who is appointed by the State Board of Equalization.

The division also provides funding for the State Board of Equalization, which supervises the administration of property tax laws by local county assessors.

The division accounted for $3.7 million, or 1.2 percent, of DOLA's total appropriation for FY 2018-19.

Division of Local Government.


Currently, there are 3,842 local governments in Colorado.

The Division of Local Government provides information and training for local governments in budget development, purchasing, demographics, land use planning, community development, water and wastewater management, and regulatory issues.
Lastly, the division distributes state and federal moneys to assist local governments in capital construction and community services, including: Local Government Handbook 1  Community Services Block Grants;  Community Development Block Grants;  Local Government Mineral and Energy Impact Grants;  Local Government Severance Tax Fund distributions;  Limited Gaming Impact Grants; and  Conservation Trust Fund distributions.
The division accounted for $195.7 million, or 61.9 percent, of DOLA's total appropriation for FY 2018-19.

Board of Assessment Appeals.

The Board of Assessment Appeals (BAA) is a quasi-judicial body in DOLA that hears individual taxpayer requests for property tax abatements, and property tax exemptions.

The three-member board hears appeals concerning the valuation of real and personal property, property tax abatements, and property tax exemptions.
The three-member board is appointed by the Governor and confirmed by the Senate.
Table 2 Divisions within the Department of Local Affairs FY 2018-19 Appropriation (millions) General Fund Cash Fund Reappropriated Funds Federal Funds Total Appropriation Division Director’s Office Property Taxation $1.8 $1.5 $2.3 $1.2 Housing $17.9 $21.3 Local Government $15.2 $162.0 $4.1 $0.2 $1.1 $6.6 $1.4 $8.8 2.8% $0.0 $3.8 1.2% $67.5 $107.8 34.1% $11.9 $195.7 61.9% Total Appropriation Source: Joint Budget Committee Staff $37.1 $186.1 $12.1 $80.8 $316.1 100.0% 2 Local Government Handbook Section II.
County Governments Organization and Structure Colorado is divided into 64 counties.

Counties are political subdivisions of state government, and may only exercise those powers specifically provided in state law.

Generally, counties are responsible for law enforcement; the provision of social services on behalf of the state; the construction, maintenance, and repair of roads and bridges; and general control of land use in unincorporated areas.

County boundaries are established in statute.


The Colorado Constitution establishes the following county officers: commissioners, treasurer, assessor, coroner, clerk and recorder, surveyor, and sheriff, with duties provided under state law.

All counties in Colorado are assigned to one of six categories based on population and other factors for the purposes of setting the salaries of elected county officials.
Counties are also assigned a different "class” in state law for the purpose of fixing fees collected by the county and “categories” for the purpose of setting county elected official salaries.

Map 1 Colorado Counties County Elected Officials County commissioners.

The board of county commissioners is the primary policy-making body for the county and is responsible for the county’s administrative and budgetary functions.
Most counties have three commissioners who represent separate districts, but are elected by the voters of the entire county.

Any county with a population over 70,000 may expand its board from three to five commissioners by a vote of county electors.

Local Government Handbook 3 The other county elected officers are the county clerk and recorder, county assessor, county treasurer, county sheriff, county coroner, and the county surveyor, who are elected to four-year terms under the state constitution.
These elected officials have specific powers and duties that are prescribed by law, and they function independently from each other and from the board of county commissioners.

However, the county commissioners approve the budgets for all county departments.

County officers must be qualified electors and have resided in the county for at least one year preceding election.

The constitution also provides for a county attorney who, by statute, is appointed by and reports to the county commissioners.
County clerk and recorder.

As the primary administrative officer of the county, the county clerk and recorder records deeds in the county and serves as the clerk to the board of county commissioners.

The clerk is also an agent of the state Department of Revenue and is charged with the administration of certain state laws relating to motor vehicles, certification of automobile titles, and motor vehicle registrations.
The clerk administers all primary, general, and special elections held in the county, oversees voter registration, publishes notices of elections, appoints election judges, and ensures the printing and distribution of ballots.

The board of county commissioners has a duty to supervise the conduct of general and special elections, and is expected to consult and coordinate with the clerk and recorder on rendering decisions and interpreting state election codes.
The clerk and recorder also issues marriage licenses, maintains records and books for the board of commissioners, collects license fees and charges required by the state, maintains property ownership records, and provides deed abstracts upon request.

County treasurer.

The county treasurer is responsible for the receipt, custody, and disbursement of county funds.
The treasurer collects some state taxes and all property taxes in the county, including those for other units of local government such as cities and school districts, minus a statutory collection fee.

The treasurer also conducts sales of property for delinquent taxes.

County assessor.

The county assessor is responsible for discovering, listing, classifying, and valuing all property in the county in accordance with state laws.
It is the assessor's duty to determine the actual and taxable value of property.

Most real property, such as residential and commercial property, is reassessed every odd-numbered year, and personal property is reassessed every year.

The assessor is required to send out a notice of valuation each year to property owners, which reflects the owner's property value and the amount of property taxes due to the county treasurer.
Qualifications for county assessors are addressed by the Real Estate Appraiser's Act.

The act requires, among other things, that real estate appraisers meet state licensing requirements and that county assessors comply with the licensing requirements within two years after taking office.

County sheriff.

Counties are responsible for law enforcement, which includes supporting the court system and the district attorney function, as well as providing jail facilities through the sheriff.
The county sheriff is the chief law enforcement officer of the unincorporated areas of a county and is responsible for maintaining the peace and enforcing the criminal laws of the state.

The sheriff supports the county court system and is required to serve and execute processes, subpoenas, writs, and orders as directed by the court.

The sheriff oversees the operation of the county jail, and must maintain and feed prisoners.
The sheriff is also the fire warden for prairie or forest fires in the county and is responsible for county search and rescue functions.

County sheriffs can also provide 4 Local Government Handbook law enforcement for, or share jurisdiction with, a municipality through a contract for services or an intergovernmental agreement (IGA).
State law specifies that any candidate for county sheriff must:  be a citizen of the United States;  be a resident of the state of Colorado;  be a resident of the county in which the person will hold the office;  have a high school diploma or a college degree;  complete a criminal history record check; and  provide a complete set of fingerprints to a qualified law enforcement agency.
Any person who has been convicted of any federal or state felony charge is ineligible for the office of sheriff unless the person has been pardoned.

County coroner.

The county coroner is responsible for investigating the cause and manner of deaths, issuing death certificates, and requesting autopsies.

The coroner is the only county official empowered to arrest the county sheriff, or to fill the position of interim county sheriff in the event of a vacancy.
Similar to the requirements for county sheriff, state law specifies that any candidate for county coroner must:  be a citizen of the United States;  be a resident of the state of Colorado;  be a resident of the county in which the person will hold the office;  have a high school diploma or a college degree;   provide a complete set of fingerprints to a qualified law enforcement agency according to state complete a criminal history record check; law; and  possess knowledge and experience concerning the medical-legal investigation of death.
Additionally, any person who has been convicted of any federal or state felony charge is ineligible for the office of county coroner unless he or she has been pardoned.

A constitutional amendment, passed in 2002, authorizes the General Assembly to require that coroners receive minimum training upon election to office.
State law requires that a person who is elected or appointed to the office of coroner for the first time to attend a training course for at least 40 hours using the curriculum developed by the Colorado Coroners Standards and Training (CCST) board, which is overseen by the Department of Public Health and Environment.
Within one year of taking office, any person who is elected or appointed to the office of coroner for the first time must obtain certification in basic medical-legal death investigation from the Colorado Coroners Association or another training provider approved by the CCST board.
State law also requires each coroner to complete a minimum of 16 hours of in-service training provided by the Colorado Coroners Association or by another training provider approved by the CCST board during each year of the coroner's term.

The CCST board has the authority to grant an extension of up to one year to obtain certification or determine that a combination of education, experience, and training satisfies the requirement to complete 16 hours of in-service training annually.
Local Government Handbook 5 County surveyor.

The county surveyor is responsible for any surveying duties pertaining to the county and for settling boundary disputes when directed by a court or when requested by interested parties.

The county surveyor establishes the boundaries of county property, including road rights-of-way, and supervises construction surveys that impact the county.

County surveyors also create survey markers and monuments, and conduct surveys relating to toll roads and reservoirs.
State law requires that county surveyors meet the requirements to qualify as a professional land surveyor and requires surveyors to file an official bond of $1,000 with the county clerk and recorder.

Salaries of County Officials The Colorado Constitution requires the General Assembly to set the salary levels for county commissioners, sheriffs, treasurers, assessors, clerk and recorders, and coroners.
The General Assembly is required to consider specific factors when fixing the compensation of county officers and must set a level of compensation that reflects variations in the workloads and responsibilities of each county officer.

The state constitution also provides that county officers cannot have their compensation changed during their terms of office.
Further, any change in compensation may occur only when the compensation of all county officers within the same county is adjusted, or when the compensation for the same county office in all of the counties of the state is increased or decreased.

County categorization.

All Colorado counties are assigned a category — I through VI — for the purpose of setting the salaries of elected county officials.
In general, the counties in categories I through III are larger counties that are required to pay higher salaries than counties in categories IV through VI.

The category assignments are based on factors including population, the number of persons residing in the unincorporated areas of the county, assessed valuation of properties in the county, motor vehicle registration, building permits, and other factors reflecting the workloads and responsibilities of county officers.
These categories are subject to change, based on factors like population growth or property valuation.

The salary schedule does not affect the city and county governments of Broomfield and Denver, or the home rule counties (Pitkin and Weld) that are authorized to set their own compensation rates.

In 2015, the General Assembly changed the categorization of counties for the purpose of setting salaries.

Specifically, four subcategories were added to each classification, for a total of 24 categories.
All changes to county salaries were effective starting January 1, 2016, for all terms of office beginning after this date.

As a result, a county will be responsible for administering salaries based on both categorizations until all terms that began prior to January 1, 2016, have expired.

County elected officials' salary commission.

In 2015, an independent commission was required to make recommendations to the General Assembly on the equitable and proper salaries to be paid to county elected officials.
The County Elected Officials' Salary Commission was repealed by the 2015 General Assembly, effective January 1, 2016.

6 Local Government Handbook Terms beginning prior to January 1, 2016.

The salaries of elected county officials for terms of office that began prior to January 1, 2016, are summarized in Table 3.

The counties that fall into each category are shown in Table 4.
Table 3 Salaries of County Officials Whose Terms of Office Began Prior to January 1, 2016 County Category County Commissioners I II III IV V VI $87,300 $72,500 $58,500 $49,700 $43,800 $39,700 County Sheriffs $111,100 $87,700 $76,000 $66,600 $49,100 $46,500 Source: Section 30-2-102 (2.2), C.R.S.
County Treasurers, Assessors, and Clerks County Coroners County Surveyors $87,300 $72,500 $58,500 $49,700 $43,800 $39,700 $87,300 $44,200 $33,100 $22,100 $9,900 $9,000 $5,500 $4,400 $3,300 $2,200 $1,100 $1,000 Table 4 Categories of Counties to Set Salaries of County Officials Whose Terms Began Prior to January 1, 2016 County Category Counties I II III IV V VI Adams, Arapahoe, Boulder, Douglas, El Paso, Jefferson, Larimer, Pueblo, and Weld* Eagle, Fremont, Garfield, La Plata, Mesa, Pitkin*, Routt, and Summit Alamosa, Archuleta, Chaffee, Clear Creek, Delta, Gilpin, Grand, Gunnison, Las Animas, Logan, Moffat, Montezuma, Montrose, Morgan, Otero, Park, Rio Blanco, San Miguel, and Teller Custer, Elbert, Huerfano, Kit Carson, Lake, Ouray, Prowers, Rio Grande, Washington, and Yuma Baca, Bent, Cheyenne, Conejos, Costilla, Crowley, Dolores, Hinsdale, Lincoln, Mineral, Phillips, Saguache, and San Juan Jackson, Kiowa, and Sedgwick Source: Section 30-2-102 (1), C. R. S. *Home rule counties are authorized to set their own compensation rate.
Terms beginning on or after January 1, 2016.

Senate Bill 15-288 established 24 categories — I-A through VI-D — for the purposes of establishing the salaries of county officers whose terms begin on or after January 1, 2016.
The General Assembly may move a county to another category after considering a county’s population, persons residing in unincorporated areas, the assessed valuation of property in the county, and motor vehicle registrations, building permits, military installations, and other factors that may reflect the variations in workloads and responsibilities of county officers and the tax resources of the counties.
Prior to January 1 and every two years thereafter, the director of research of Legislative Council is required to adjust the salaries of elected county officials for inflation and post such adjusted salary amounts on the General Assembly's website.

Local Government Handbook 7 Government officials may not increase their salary for a current term.

As a result, county officers will not receive an increase in their salary, based on the categories in Table 5 and Table 6, until a new term begins.
Table 5 shows the 2018 salaries of elected county officials for terms of office that began on or after January 1, 2016.
Table 5 Salaries of County Officials Whose Terms of Office Began On or After January 1, 2016 County Category I-A I-B I-C I-D II-A II-B County Commissioners $120,485 $111,217 $101,949 $92,681 $100,059 $92,362 II-C II-D III-A III-B III-C III-D IV-A IV-B IV-C IV-D V-A V-B $84,665 $76,968 $80,737 $74,527 $68,316 62,106 $68,592 $63,316 $58,039 $52,763 $60,449 $55,799 V-C V-D VI-A VI-B VI-C VI-D $51,149 $46,500 $54,791 $50,576 $46,362 $42,147 Source: Section 30-2-102, C.R.S.
County Sheriffs $153,332 $141,537 $129,742 $117,947 $121,037 $111,726 $102,416 $93,105 $104,889 $96,821 $88,753 80,684 $91,916 $84,846 $77,775 $70,705 $67,764 $62,551 $57,339 $52,126 $64,176 $59,239 $54,303 $49,366 County Treasurers, Assessors, and Clerks $120,485 $111,217 $101,949 $92,681 $100,059 $92,362 $84,665 $76,968 $80,737 $74,527 $68,316 62,106 $68,592 $63,316 $58,039 $52,763 $60,449 $55,799 $51,149 $46,500 $54,791 $50,576 $46,362 $42,147 County Coroners $120,485 $111,217 $101,949 $92,681 $61,001 $56,309 County Surveyors $7,591 $7,007 $6,423 $5,839 $6,073 $5,605 $51,617 $46,924 $45,682 $42,168 $38,654 $35,140 $30,501 $28,155 $25,808 $23,462 $13,663 $12,612 $11,561 $10,510 $12,421 $11,466 $10,510 $9,555 $5,138 $4,671 $4,554 $4,204 $3,854 $3,503 $3,036 $2,803 $2,569 $2,336 $1,518 $1,401 $1,285 $1,168 $1,380 $1,274 $1,168 $1,062 Recent legislation.
House Bill 16-1367 recategorized counties in regard to setting salaries for county officials.

HB 18-1242 modified the categories of four counties, which increased the salaries for each county.

Table 6 summarizes the categorization of counties under both bills.

Several of these categories are not currently applied to any counties and are therefore not included in Table 6; however, a county could be moved to another category with future legislation.
8 Local Government Handbook Table 6 Categories of Counties to Set Salaries of County Officials Whose Terms Began On or After January 1, 2016 County Category I-A I-D II-A II-C III-A III-B III-C III-D IV-A IV-B IV-C V-A V-B V-C V-D VI-C Counties Adams, Arapahoe, Boulder, Douglas, El Paso, Jefferson, Larimer, Pueblo, and Weld* Mesa Eagle, Garfield, La Plata, Routt, and Summit Fremont and Pitkin* Alamosa, Chaffee, Clear Creek, Gunnison, Moffat, Montrose, Morgan, Park, Rio Blanco, San Miguel, and Teller Archuleta, Delta, Gilpin, Grand, and Logan Otero Las Animas and Montezuma Custer, Elbert, Ouray, and Prowers Kit Carson, Lake, Washington, and Yuma Huerfano and Rio Grande Baca, Conejos, Costilla, Lincoln, Mineral, Phillips, and San Juan Crowley, Hinsdale, and Saguache Bent and Dolores Cheyenne Jackson and Sedgwick VI-D Kiowa Source: Section 30-2-102 (1.5)(a), C. R. S. * Home rule counties are authorized to set their own compensation rate (Pitkin and Weld Counties).
House Rule Counties The Colorado Constitution enables the voters of a county to adopt a home rule charter providing for the organization and structure of their county.

A county charter may establish, either at the outset or by subsequent amendment, its own structure of county government.

This includes the number, terms, qualification, duties, compensation, and method of selection of county officials and employees.
A county home rule charter does not provide the “functional” home rule powers found in municipal charters, and, as subdivisions of the state, a home rule county must continue to provide the county services required by law.

Thus, state statute determines the functions, services, and facilities provided by home rule counties.

Currently, there are two home rule counties in Colorado: Pitkin and Weld.
Broomfield and Denver are also “home rule,” but have unique dual city/county status and specific constitutional provisions.

City and county governments are discussed further in Section IV.

County Powers and Responsibilities Mandatory services.

Counties have the powers, duties, and authorities that are explicitly conferred upon them by state law.
Specific statutory responsibilities include the provision of jails, weed Local Government Handbook 9 control, and establishment of a county or district public health agency to provide, at minimum, health and human services mandated by the state.

Discretionary powers.

Counties also have several discretionary powers to provide certain services or control certain activities.

Listed below are other commonly used powers or services that a board of county commissioners is authorized to implement.
Under state law, counties have the authority to:  provide veteran services;  operate emergency telephone services;  provide ambulance services;  conduct law enforcement;  operate mass transit systems;  build and maintain roads and bridges;  construct and maintain airports;  lease or sell county-owned mineral and oil and gas rights;  provide water and sewer services;   promote agriculture research and protect agricultural operations;  administer pest control; and  operate districts for irrigation, cemeteries, libraries, recreation, solid waste and disposal, and control wildfire planning and response; various types of improvement districts.
Under state law, a board of county commissioners is also authorized to control specific activities through police powers or through licensing requirements.

Some of the most common county powers are used to regulate activities such as marijuana, trash removal, animal control, disturbances and riots, and the discharge of firearms in unincorporated areas of urban counties.

In other areas, such as liquor licenses, landfills, and pest control, counties and the state share authority.
County Revenue Sources Counties have the power to collect property and sales and use taxes, as well as to incur debt, enter into contracts, and receive grants and gifts.

While property taxes are the main source of county revenue, counties may also collect other sources of revenue at the local level and receive state and federal dollars.

County property taxes.

Under Colorado law, property taxes, also called ad valorem taxes, may only be assessed for local government services.
Property taxes are paid on a proportion of a property’s value.

This assessed value of a property is determined by multiplying the actual value by the assessment rate, and the property tax is determined by multiplying a property's assessed value by a mill levy.

A mill is one-tenth of a cent; or $1 of taxes for each $1,000 of assessed value.
County property tax levies are restricted by the 5.5 percent limit on annual growth of revenue in state law, and the mill levy rate limit and the property tax revenue limit under the Taxpayer's Bill of Rights (TABOR).

According to the Department of Local Affairs' Division of Property Taxation, the largest share of property tax revenue (50.1 percent) goes to support the state's public schools.
County 10 Local Government Handbook governments claim the next largest share (19.6 percent), followed by local and special districts (18.9 percent), municipal governments (4.9 percent), and junior colleges (1.1 percent).

Debt.

Counties can incur either revenue debt, based solely upon a specified revenue stream, or general obligation debt, which constitutes a general obligation of the local government to repay the debt.
Counties may also enter into lease-purchase arrangements (as an alternative to debt financing) to build major facilities such as justice centers.

Sales taxes.

Sales taxes are levied in most counties.

The tax is collected at no charge by the state Department of Revenue and remitted monthly to the county.

A use tax is levied on the retail price of certain tangible personal property purchased outside a taxing jurisdiction, but stored, used, or consumed within that jurisdiction.

Use taxes.
Use taxes.

Counties may also collect a use tax.

A use tax is levied on the retail price of certain tangible personal property purchased outside a taxing jurisdiction, but stored, used, or consumed within that jurisdiction.

Counties are limited to collecting a use tax on construction and building materials and motor vehicles.

The purpose of a use tax is to equalize competition between in-county and out-of-county vendors making wholesale purchases.
If a county has a use tax on construction and building materials, for example, a vendor is required to pay use tax on the building materials purchased outside of the county and used within the county.

When this circumstance occurs, the county sales tax is not collected.
Revenues and Expenditures Table 7 shows the total amounts of revenue received by Colorado counties in 2015, of which 36.4 percent is from property tax revenue, 15.3 percent is from sales and use taxes, and 12.7 is percent from state and federal sources for social services.

Table 8 shows the total amount of expenditures spent by Colorado counties in 2015, including 20.1 percent on public safety, 17.0 percent on social services, 13.0 percent on public works, and 9.6 percent on capital outlay.
2015 is the most recent available data due to lag time between the end of the fiscal year and time it takes to complete yearend auditing and additional time needed for DOLA to verify revenue and expenditure actuals submitted by counties.
Local Government Handbook 11 Table 7 2015 Revenue Totals for Colorado County Governments Revenue Sources Amount % of Total Local Tax Revenue General Property $1,378,122,753 General Sales and Use $579,751,418 Specific Ownership $116,684,511 Other $7,043,374 Total Local Revenue $2,081,602,056 Intergovernmental Revenue 36.4% 15.3% 3.1% 0.2% 55.0% Social Services $481,198,082 12.7% Highway Users Tax $199,414,920 Conservation Trust Fund $10,359,205 Vehicle Registration Fees $7,748,430 Other Intergovernmental Sources Total Intergovernmental Revenue $457,068,630 $1,155,789,267 Other Tax Revenue Service Charges $360,852,826 Licenses, Permits, and Capital Fees Fines and Forfeits Enterprise Transfers Miscellaneous $63,799,547 $7,886,571 $2,447,770 $111,320,026 Total Other Tax Revenue $546,306,740 Total Revenue $3,783,698,063 Source: Department of Local Affairs.
5.3% 0.3% 0.2% 12.1% 30.5% 9.5% 1.7% 0.2% 0.1% 2.9% 14.4% 100.0% 12 Local Government Handbook Table 8 2015 Expenditure Totals for Colorado County Governments Local Expenditures Amount % of Total Operating Expenditures Public Safety Social Services General Government Public Works Health Culture and Recreation Judicial Miscellaneous $768,207,517 $649,124,862 $674,186,522 $497,380,191 $172,831,128 $165,213,659 $96,333,530 $96,828,246 20.1% 17.0% 17.7% 13.0% 4.5% 4.3% 2.5% 2.5% Total Operating Expenditures $3,120,105,655 81.7% Other Expenditures Capital Outlay Transfer to Enterprises and Outside Entities Debt Service $365,023,720 $195,331,262 $138,942,536 9.6% 5.1% 3.6% Total Other Expenditures $699,297,518 18.3% Total Expenditures Source: Department of Local Affairs.
$3,819,403,173 100.0% Local Government Handbook 13 This page intentionally left blank.

Section III: Municipal Governments Overview.

There are 272 municipalities in Colorado, including 97 home rule municipalities, 172 statutory municipalities, 2 consolidated city and county governments, and 1 territorial charter municipality.

A brief description of each type of government follows.

Statutory Towns and Cities Formation.


Residents of unincorporated areas may form a municipal corporation under the authority of state statutes.

Municipalities formed under these laws, called statutory cities and towns, are limited to exercising powers specifically granted to them by state law.

In general, ordinances of statutory towns and cities that conflict with state laws are invalid.
Residents in areas with 2,000 or fewer persons may form a statutory town, and residents in areas with more than 2,000 persons may form a statutory city.

There are 12 statutory cities and 160 statutory towns in Colorado.

These statutory cities and towns are shown in the map below and a list can be found in Appendix A.

The small number of statutory cities reflects the preference of city residents for constitutional home rule authority over statutory powers.
Map 2 Colorado Statutory Cities Local Government Handbook 15 The process for forming a statutory town or city is similar.

Residents must first file a petition for incorporation with the district court of the county in which the municipality is to be located.

The petition must be signed by at least 150 registered electors who are landowners and residents of the area to be incorporated.

However, if the area is located in a county with a population of fewer than 25,000, 40 signatures are required.
The court reviews the petition to determine whether the proposed municipality satisfies statutory requirements.

For example, the law prohibits an incorporation election if the proposed area includes, on average, fewer than 50 persons per square mile.

The court will order an incorporation election after it determines that the proposed area for incorporation satisfies statutory requirements.

Incorporation occurs if a majority of the registered electors vote to approve the incorporation.
If the area of proposed incorporation includes fewer than 500 registered electors, the board of county commissioners may refuse to permit an incorporation election if it determines the proposal fails to satisfy certain statutory requirements.

For example, the board may refuse to permit an incorporation election if the proposed incorporation is inconsistent with a county or regional comprehensive plan.
Administrative powers enable municipalities to fill vacancies in municipal offices, appoint a board of health, and provide ambulance, hospital, and other services.

Police powers enable municipalities to enforce local laws, as well as enact measures to preserve and protect the safety, health, and welfare of the community.

Municipal powers.
Municipal powers.

State law provides statutory cities and towns a broad range of powers to address the needs of their denser populations through self-government, including administrative, police, and financial powers.

Administrative powers enable municipalities to fill vacancies in municipal offices, appoint a board of health, and provide ambulance, hospital, and other services.
Police powers enable municipalities to enforce local laws, as well as enact measures to preserve and protect the safety, health, and welfare of the community.

These powers enable municipalities to prohibit offensive or unwholesome businesses within municipal limits or to compel such businesses to abate their impacts.

For example, Amendment 64, approved by the voters in 2012, allows towns and cities to either regulate or prohibit the sale of recreational marijuana within their boundaries.
Statutes provide municipalities additional powers to finance municipal activities.

Municipalities are also granted significant authority to manage land use and growth.

Town governments.

The legislative and corporate authority of statutory towns is vested in a board of trustees that consists of a mayor and up to six trustees.

The mayor and members of the board of trustees are elected from the town at large.
The mayor presides over board of trustees meetings and has the same voting powers as other board members.

However, a town may adopt an ordinance that limits mayors to voting only when there is a tie vote of the board, provided the ordinance also authorizes the mayor to veto spending ordinances.

This limit also provides that the veto may be overruled by a two-thirds vote of the board.
The board of trustees is required to appoint a clerk, treasurer, and town attorney, or adopt an ordinance that provides for the election of these offices.

The clerk is the custodian of municipal records.

The board may also appoint a town administrator to oversee staff and the daily operations of the town.

Terms of the mayor and trustees are two years, unless an ordinance is adopted to extend the terms to four years.
Because they lack specific 16 Local Government Handbook authority, statutory towns may not adopt a city council-city manager form of municipal government.

City governments.

The legislative and corporate authority of statutory cities is vested in an elected mayor and city council.

The mayor presides over city council meetings and has the same voting powers as other board members.

The mayor is responsible for supervising the conduct of municipal officers and investigating complaints against them.
As with statutory towns, cities may adopt an ordinance that limits mayors to voting only when there is a tie vote of the board.

The ordinance must also authorize the mayor to veto spending ordinances that may be overruled by a two-thirds vote of the board.

Mayors are elected from the city at large.

Members of the council are elected to represent a specific ward.

The city clerk and treasurer are elected from the city at large.
However, the city council may submit a proposal to the registered electors to change the city clerk and treasurer to appointive offices.

If approved by the voters, the appointment of the city clerk and treasurer would be made by the city council.

The city council may also submit a proposal to the registered electors to return these offices to elective offices.

City council-city manager governments.


Most Colorado municipalities with over 5,000 residents are organized as city council-city manager municipalities.

Under this form of government, the mayor and the council primarily address policy matters, and a professional manager implements and administers the council's policies.

At least 5 percent of a city's registered electors must sign a petition to cause an election to adopt a city council-city manager form of municipal government.
This petition specifies whether the mayor will be elected from among the members of the city council or will be elected from the city at large.

If the voters approve reorganizing as a city council-city manager form of municipal government, the council appoints a city manager to supervise the administration of the city and to ensure that city ordinances are enforced.

The council must choose a manager based on his or her executive and administrative qualifications.
The city manager does not need be a resident of the city or state at the time of appointment, but may be required, by ordinance, to reside in the city after appointment.

The council may not appoint a sitting council member as city manager.

The manager has the power to appoint and remove all officers and employees in the administrative service of the city.

The council is prohibited from directing the hiring or removal of administrative officers and employees.

Home Rule Municipalities Overview.


The Colorado Constitution allows cities and towns to adopt a home rule charter.

Home rule charters have been adopted by 97 municipalities in Colorado.

Home rule municipalities can be seen in the map below and are listed in Appendix A.

A home rule charter provides a city or town with greater authority to regulate local and municipal matters than is available to statutory municipalities.
Most home rule municipalities have adopted the city council-city manager form of municipal government.

Local Government Handbook 17 Map 3 Colorado Home Rule Municipalities Map 4 Colorado Home Rule Municipalities Front Range Zoom 18 Local Government Handbook Formation.

The process for adopting, amending, and repealing home rule charters is specified in state statute.
Under state law, at least 5 percent of the registered electors of a municipality may petition the municipality's governing body to hold a charter commission election.

Alternatively, the governing body may adopt an ordinance to cause a charter commission election.

If approved by the voters, the charter commission has 120 days to draft a home rule charter.
The charter identifies the municipality's powers, governing structure, terms of elected offices, budget and election procedures, procedures for initiative and referendum of measures, and the process for the recall of officers.

Once approved by the commission, a charter must be submitted to the voters for their approval.

If rejected by the voters, the commission may draft another charter for consideration at a future election.
Rejection of the second charter by the voters results in the dissolution of the charter commission.

Home rule charters may be amended or repealed through similar procedures as the creation of a charter.

State law also provides a process for voters to adopt a home rule charter at the time of incorporation.

Powers.

A home rule charter provides a city or town with the greatest authority to regulate local and municipal matters.
In general, a home rule city's ordinances pertaining to local matters supersede conflicting state laws.

For example, the courts have determined that zoning is primarily a matter of local concern.

Consequently, a home rule municipality may adopt its own procedures to rezone an area instead of following the statutory requirement pertaining to rezoning.

State statute also grants home rule municipalities additional powers.
For example, the Local Government Land Use Control Enabling Act allows home rule cities and towns to regulate activities that impact a community or surrounding area, to provide planned and orderly use of land, and to protect the environment.

State laws may take precedence over conflicting home rule ordinances when such issues are a matter of statewide concern.

Matters of local, state, and mixed concerns.


State laws may take precedence over conflicting home rule ordinances when such issues are a matter of statewide concern.

For example, the Colorado Supreme Court determined that a city ordinance imposing a total ban on oil and gas development within the City of Greeley was illegal because it conflicted with "the interest of the state in promoting the efficient and fair development, production, and utilization of oil and gas resources in the state."
According to a recent Colorado Supreme Court decision, a standard test is not available for determining whether a matter is a local, state, or mixed concern.

Rather, the court has made such a determination on an ad hoc basis, "considering the totality of circumstances.” For example, the court has identified several factors to be considered, including the need for statewide uniformity and the extraterritorial impacts of municipal legislation.
The court may also consider whether the subject matter is traditionally governed by state or local government and any state constitutional provisions that specifically address the issue.

Annexation Annexation is the process whereby land that is adjacent to a municipality is incorporated into the municipal boundaries.

The Bill of Rights in the Colorado Constitution limits the authority of Local Government Handbook 19 municipalities to annex lands.
Annexation of an unincorporated area may not occur unless one of the following conditions is met:  annexation has been approved by the majority vote of the landowners and the registered electors in the area proposed to be annexed; the annexing municipality has received a petition for annexation signed by more than 50 percent of landowners who own more than 50 percent of the area that is proposed to be annexed; or the area is entirely surrounded by, or is solely owned by, the annexing municipality.
  The General Assembly has used this constitutional authority to create three annexation procedures: annexation initiative by petition of landowners; annexation by election; and annexation by ordinance.

The constitution allows the General Assembly to establish specific annexation procedures under conditions.

It has used this authority to create three annexation procedures: annexation initiative by petition of landowners; annexation by election; and annexation by ordinance.
A brief description of these procedures follows.

Requirements of land to be annexed.

State statutes limit the type of land that may be annexed.

Such lands must be one-sixth contiguous with the existing municipal boundary.

The land must also share a community of interest with the annexing municipality; be urban or likely to become urban; and be capable of being integrated with the annexing municipality.

Consent of a land owner is required if his or her land will be divided by annexation.
A school district may be required to approve the annexation if the annexation divides the district.

Additionally, an annexation may not occur if it will extend a municipal boundary more than three miles in any one year.

The law also establishes a process for annexing a parcel of land that is sought by different municipalities.

Petition for annexation by landowners.


Individuals comprising more than 50 percent of the landowners and owning more than 50 percent of an area of land may petition the governing body of a municipality to annex their land.

The municipality's governing body must then determine if the proposed annexation satisfies statutory requirements.

If the petition is found to be in compliance, the governing body establishes a date for a public hearing on the annexation.
At least 25 days prior to that hearing, the municipality must prepare an impact report that includes maps, plans to finance the annexation, plans to extend municipal services to the area, and the effects of the annexation on local public school systems.

After the public hearing, if the governing body determines that all statutory requirements have been met, it may annex the territory without an election.

Petition for annexation election.


Annexation may also occur by election in the area proposed for annexation.

Either 75 qualified electors or 10 percent of the qualified electors of an area, whichever is less, may petition the governing body of a municipality to hold an annexation election.

The petition, maps, and statements regarding the area to be annexed must be filed with the municipal clerk.

The petition is reviewed by the governing body to determine if it complies with state law.
If the petition complies with all requirements, a public hearing is set and an impact report is created by the municipality.

The governing body may then call the annexation election.

Three commissioners are appointed by the district court to oversee the annexation election.

Notice of the election must be published at designated polling places and once a week for four weeks in a newspaper of general 20 Local Government Handbook circulation.
All landowners, including corporate landowners, who are registered electors in the area proposed to be annexed may vote in the annexation election.

State An enclave is an unincorporated area entirely contained within the boundaries of a municipality.

Once an enclave has existed for three years, it may be annexed by a municipal ordinance.

law creates a Annexation by ordinance.

streamlined process for annexing enclaves and lands that are owned by the municipality.
An enclave is an unincorporated area entirely contained within the boundaries of a municipality.

Once an enclave has existed for three years, it may be annexed by a municipal ordinance.

Annexation may only occur after notice of the annexation is published in a newspaper of general circulation in the area proposed to be annexed once a week for four weeks, with the first notice published at least 30 days prior to the adoption of the ordinance.
A municipality must satisfy additional requirements to annex an enclave with a population over 100 people and more than 50 acres.

To annex such areas, the municipality must form a nine-member annexation transition committee to facilitate communication among the annexing municipality, affected counties, and residents, business owners, and property owners within the enclave.
The committee must include two representatives of the annexing municipality, two representatives from the county or counties where the enclave is situated, and five members who live, own a business, or own real property within the enclave.

Discontinuance of Incorporation Unless otherwise provided for in a home rule city's charter, state law outlines the process for how a home rule or statutory city may discontinue its incorporation.
The proceedings for discontinuance of incorporation begin when a petition for discontinuance is filed with the district court of the county where the municipality exists.

The petition must be signed by at least 25 percent of the registered electors of the municipality.

Upon verification of the petition, the court will notify the electors of the municipality of a vote at the next regular election on whether or not to discontinue the incorporation of the municipality.
At least two-thirds of the electorate must vote to discontinue incorporation.

After an affirmative vote of the electorate, the governing body of the municipality is to make sure that all of the debts of the municipality are paid and deposit any municipal documents or records with the county clerk and recorder for safekeeping.

The county clerk and recorder must then certify the discontinuance of incorporation with the Secretary of State and provide notice within the county of the discontinuance.
Abandoned Municipalities If a municipality has failed to hold elections or have any government activity for a period of five years, the county attorney may ask the Secretary of State to determine the municipality abandoned and discontinue its incorporation.
If the Secretary of State determines that the municipality is abandoned, the county clerk and recorder of the county in which the abandoned municipality is Local Government Handbook 21 located must provide notice of its discontinuance within the county and maintain any of the municipality's documents for safekeeping.

Financial Powers of Municipalities Overview.

State law provides municipalities with a variety of revenue-raising mechanisms to pay for municipal expenses and infrastructure improvements.
Municipal revenue sources primarily include sales and use taxes and property taxes.

Municipalities also may employ debt financing tools authorized in state law.

Sales and use taxes.

Sales and use taxes are the primary revenue sources for Colorado municipalities.

A sales tax is a tax levied on the sale of goods and services.

A use tax is levied on the retail purchase price of certain tangible personal property outside a taxing jurisdiction but stored, used, or consumed within that jurisdiction.
State law allows municipalities to collect a sales or use tax if approved by their residents at an election.

Most municipalities that collect a sales tax also collect a use tax.

General obligation bonds are secured by the municipality's authority to levy property taxes… Revenue bonds are repaid using the income generated by the project.

Property taxes.

Most Colorado municipalities assess a property tax.
According to the Department of Local Affairs' Division of Property Taxation, municipal governments collect 4.9 percent of the property tax collected in the state.

A property tax is determined by multiplying a property's assessed value by a mill levy.

A mill is one-tenth of a cent; or $1 of taxes for each $1,000 of assessed value.

County assessors determine property values, and municipalities set the mill levies.

General obligation and revenue bonds.


Municipalities may issue general obligation and revenue bonds to finance buildings, recreational facilities, and other public infrastructure improvements.

General obligation bonds are secured by the municipality's authority to levy property taxes.

In the event of default, holders of general obligation bonds may compel a tax levy to satisfy the issuer’s obligation on the defaulted bonds.
Revenue bonds are used to pay for projects that generate income, such as a water infrastructure improvements.

Revenue bonds are repaid using the income generated by the project.

Municipalities may also issue sales and use tax revenue bonds.

These bonds are special, limited obligations that are payable solely from the revenue derived from a municipality's sales and use tax.
General obligation securities are considered more secure than revenue bonds because of the municipality's obligation to repay the debt.

Interest received from municipal bonds is exempt from federal and Colorado income tax.

Certificates of participation.

Certificates of participation (COPs) may also be used by municipalities to pay for infrastructure improvements.

COPs are a type of municipal debt which can be contracted by cities without voter approval.
Courts have ruled that, because of their structure, COPs do not constitute long-term obligations of the issuing authority, and are therefore exempt from state and local laws that require voter approval of long-term debt.

COPs are leases divided or “certificated” into shares.
These shares are the certificates of participation that are sold to investors and represent 22 Local Government Handbook a proportionate interest in the right to receive revenues paid by the lessee (a municipality) to the lessor/vendor.

COPs, compared to other lease-purchases, are for a larger dollar amount, with a longer term, and are usually rated by bond rating agencies.
Revenues and Expenditures Table 9 shows the total amounts of revenue received by Colorado municipalities in 2015, including 52.4 percent from sales and use taxes, 9.6 percent from service charges, and 7.5 percent from property tax revenue.

Table 10 shows the total amounts of expenditures spent by Colorado municipalities in 2015, including 28.5 percent on public safety, 17.9 percent on capital outlay, and 13.3 percent on culture and recreation.
2015 is the most recent available data due to lag time between the end of the fiscal year and time it takes to complete yearend auditing and additional time needed for DOLA to verify revenue and expenditure actuals submitted by municipalities governments.
Table 9 2015 Revenue Totals for Colorado Municipalities Revenue Sources Amount % of Total Local Tax Revenue General Sales and Use General Property Franchise Specific Ownership Employment Occupation Other Total Local Revenue $2,257,668,615 $322,461,871 $127,682,408 $26,750,487 $13,760,323 $136,694,761 $2,885,018,465 Intergovernmental Revenue Highway Users Tax Conservation Trust Fund Vehicle Registration Fees Cigarette Tax Other Intergovernmental Sources Total Intergovernmental Revenue $106,408,002 $28,556,900 $11,046,035 $8,120,783 $388,755,086 $542,886,806 Other Tax Revenue Service Charges Licenses, Permits, and Capital Fees Enterprise Transfers Fines and Forfeits Miscellaneous Total Other Tax Revenue Total Revenue Source: Department of Local Affairs.
$413,500,536 $187,252,654 $79,907,616 $64,494,200 $139,371,489 $884,526,495 $4,312,431,766 52.4% 7.5% 3.0% 0.6% 0.3% 3.2% 66.9% 2.5% 0.7% 0.3% 0.2% 9.0% 12.6% 9.6% 4.3% 1.9% 1.5% 3.2% 20.5% 100.0% Local Government Handbook 23 Table 10 2015 Expenditure Totals for Colorado Municipalities Local Expenditures Amount % of Total Operating Expenditures Public Safety General Government Culture and Recreation Public Works Judicial Health Miscellaneous $1,181,921,072 $688,696,119 $550,341,873 $481,182,657 $38,353,365 $33,769,942 $137,336,504 28.5% 16.6% 13.3% 11.6% 0.9% 0.8% 3.3% Total Operating Expenditures $3,111,601,532 75.0% Other Expenditures Capital Outlay Debt Service Transfers to Enterprises and Outside Entities Total Other Expenditures Total Expenditures Source: Department of Local Affairs.
$742,283,668 17.9% $173,076,857 $122,339,075 $1,037,699,600 $4,149,301,132 4.2% 2.9% 25.0% 100.0% 24 Local Government Handbook Section IV: City and County Governments A city and county is a distinct entity established under Article XX of the state constitution that operates under a home rule charter and exercises the powers of municipal and county government.

These entities have powers similar to home rule municipalities to regulate local and municipal matters.
City and county governments are also responsible for providing the services required of counties and county officers.

Currently, Denver and Broomfield are the only city and county governments in Colorado.

Currently, Denver and Broomfield are the only city and county governments in Colorado.

Establishment.

The establishment of a city and county occurs by a constitutional amendment.
The General Assembly may refer a constitutional amendment to the voters by passing a concurrent resolution, or citizens may place a measure on a statewide ballot through the initiative process.

For example, state voters approved a referendum to form the City and County of Broomfield in 1998, which consolidated areas previously located in four counties: Adams, Boulder, Jefferson, and Weld.
Revenues and Expenditures Table 11 shows the total amounts of revenue received by city and county governments in 2015, including 35.0 percent from sales and use taxes, 18.8 percent from general property taxes, and 13.1 percent from service charges.

Table 12 shows the total amounts of expenditures spent by these governments in 2015, including 31.4 percent on public safety, 10.6 percent on capital outlay, and 10.4 percent on culture and recreation.
Local Government Handbook 25 Table 11 2015 Revenue Totals for Colorado City and County Governments Revenue Sources Amount % of Total Local Tax Revenue General Sales and Use General Property Franchise Specific Ownership Employment Occupation Other $704,315,167 $379,470,687 $49,181,930 $28,586,104 $48,293,000 $95,555,780 35.0% 18.8% 2.4% 1.4% 2.4% 4.7% Total Local Revenue $1,305,402,668 64.8% Intergovernmental Revenue Social Services Highway Users Tax Conservation Trust Fund $82,204,029 $20,995,949 $6,686,014 Other Intergovernmental Sources $123,012,952 4.1% 1.0% 0.3% 6.1% Total Intergovernmental Revenue $232,898,944 11.6% Other Tax Revenue Service Charges $264,489,652 13.1% Licenses, Permits, and Capital Fees $65,761,610 Enterprise Transfers Fines and Forfeits Miscellaneous Total Other Tax Revenue Total Revenue Source: Department of Local Affairs.
$3,031,026 $54,461,292 $88,954,079 $476,697,659 $2,014,999,271 3.3% 0.2% 2.7% 4.4% 23.7% 100.0% 26 Local Government Handbook Table 12 2015 Expenditure Totals for Colorado City and County Governments Local Expenditures Amount % of Total Operating Expenditures Public Safety General Government Culture and Recreation Social Services Public Works Judicial Health Miscellaneous $584,323,849 $340,637,082 $194,367,920 $134,906,426 $60,591,383 $45,735,331 $24,573,302 $48,002,143 31.4% 18.3% 10.4% 7.3% 3.3% 2.5% 1.3% 2.6% Total Operating Expenditures $1,433,137,436 77.0% Other Expenditures Debt Service Capital Outlay Transfers to Enterprises and Outside Entities Total Other Expenditures $177,518,725 $197,886,271 $51,585,346 9.5% 10.6% 2.8% $426,990,342 23.0% Total Expenditures $1,860,127,778 100.0% Source: Department of Local Affairs.
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Section V: Local Government Use and Planning Powers Overview.

In general, home rule governments have greater authority over land use and other types of local matters than statutory local governments.

However, state statutes grant land use and planning powers to both home rule and statutory municipal and county governments.
For example, state law grants both municipal and county governments the authority to regulate impacts of new developments that affect state interests, such as large water projects and natural hazards, including flood plains and avalanche paths.

General Land Use and Planning Laws for Local Governments Local Government Land Use Control Enabling Act.
This act allows counties and municipalities to regulate activities that impact a community or surrounding area to provide for the planned and orderly use of land, and to protect the environment.

The law also allows a local government to provide for the phased development of services and regulate the location of activities and development that may cause significant changes in population density.
…state law grants both municipal and county governments the authority to regulate impacts of new developments that affect state interests, such as large water projects and natural hazards, including flood plains and avalanche paths.

House Bill 1041 powers.

In 1974, the General Assembly enacted House Bill 1041, the Areas and Activities of State Interest Act, to ensure that the impacts of new developments that affect state interests are considered and mitigated.
Areas of state interest include natural hazards significant historical, natural, or archeological resources.

Activities of state interest include the construction of major new domestic water and sewage treatment systems, waste disposal sites, and The act authorizes local governments, highways.
specifically statutory and home rule municipalities and counties, to determine whether a development impacts an area or activity of state interest and to regulate the development of such projects according to legislatively defined criteria.

and Municipal Land Use and Planning Powers Statutory municipalities.

Statutory municipalities are granted zoning and planning powers that are similar to those granted to counties.
For example, a municipal government may divide the city into districts and regulate the location and use of buildings, structures, and land for trade, industry, and other purposes.

Home rule municipalities.

The state constitution provides the authority for a home rule municipality to regulate local and municipal matters.
State law further provides that a home rule city's ordinances pertaining to local matters supersede conflicting state laws, and the courts have determined that zoning is primarily a matter of local concern.

Consequently, a home rule municipality may adopt its own procedures for zoning.

In general, a home rule city's ordinances Local Government Handbook 29 that conflict with matters of state interest may be invalid.
For example, the courts have determined that the efficient production of oil and gas is a state interest, and local government land use policies that interfere with this objective may be invalid.

County Land Use and Planning Powers County zoning regulations promulgated under the county planning code may include the classification of land uses and the distribution of land development.

Zoning.
Zoning.

A board of county commissioners may establish zoning for all or part of the unincorporated area of a county by dividing and classifying land according to its commercial, or intended use agricultural).

This is accomplished by having the county planning commission recommend a zoning plan for consideration by the board.

Once a zoning plan is approved, the board can amend any provision of the county zoning regulations after submitting changes to the planning commission for review and suggestions.
residential, (e.g., State law authorizes a county planning commission to enact a zoning plan for all or any part of the unincorporated territory within the county.

County zoning regulations promulgated under the county planning code may include the classification of land uses and the distribution of land development.

Zoning plans typically identify the type and density of use that is appropriate for a specific area.

For example, a county may zone an area for agricultural activities.
Other activities, such as a commercial development, would be required to obtain a special use permit to be constructed in that area.

Counties are prohibited from adopting an ordinance that is in conflict with any state statute; however, a county ordinance and statute may coexist as long as they do not contain express or implied conditions that are in conflict with each other.

If a conflict does exist, the ordinance is preempted by state law.

County comprehensive plans.


A county comprehensive plan or “master plan” is a planning document intended to guide the growth and long-term development of the unincorporated areas of a county.

County comprehensive plans are advisory documents only and cannot bind decisions made by a county planning commission or the board of county commissioners.
State law requires counties to adopt master plans if the county has a population of 100,000 or more, or a population over 10,000 and a 10 percent growth rate in a five-year period.

The advisory nature of a comprehensive plan does not prohibit a county from denying a specific development application based on noncompliance with the comprehensive plan, provided the plan is adopted legislatively by the board and the plan is sufficiently specific to ensure consistent application.
Additionally, a county comprehensive plan can be a binding document if the board authorizes a comprehensive plan, or any part of the plan through zoning, regulations, or land use codes.

Local Governments and the Power of Eminent Domain The Colorado Constitution permits the taking of private property provided that just compensation is awarded to the property owners and the taking is determined to be for a public use.
State law provides eminent domain powers to cities, towns, counties, urban renewal authorities, and various 30 Local Government Handbook utilities and corporations for the purpose of providing public services through the construction, improvement, or maintenance of public utilities and infrastructure.
For example, state law allows a city, town, or city and county, to pass a resolution to establish, construct, extend, open, widen, or alter any street, lane, bridge, sewer, tunnel, or subway; or to build, acquire, construct, or establish any public building, public work, or public improvement.

To do this, governmental entities have the right of eminent domain to take, damage, condemn, or appropriate an individual’s private property.

Colorado Urban Renewal Law.


The Urban Renewal Law also grants eminent domain authority to the state and local governments in order to prevent, remedy, or eliminate areas that are designated as a slum or as blighted.

A blighted area is defined as an area that "substantially impairs or arrests the sound growth of a municipality, retards the provision of housing accommodations, or constitutes an economic or social liability, and is a menace to the public health, safety, morals, or welfare."
At the local level, the power of eminent domain may be exercised through an urban renewal authority or a downtown development authority, established by a municipality to prevent blight or slum for public benefit.

An authority may not acquire real property for an urban renewal project unless the local governing body has approved an urban renewal plan.
Additionally, in order to authorize the use of eminent domain as a means to acquire property for an urban renewal project, a governing body must prove that blight or slum conditions exist without regard to the economic performance of the property.
A finding of blight by a local governing body must be determined according to the presence of at least four factors specified in law, and the use of eminent domain by an authority to acquire private property for the purpose of transferring the property to a private party requires the presence of at least five of these listed factors.

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Section VI: Special Districts Overview.


Special districts are local governments that provide services or infrastructure to promote the health, safety, prosperity, security, and general welfare of the inhabitants of the district.

The Special District Act, in Title 32, C.R.S., comprises the legal framework for many different types of special districts and specifies the services that may be provided.
It also specifies the procedures to form a district and district funding sources, and defines the composition of special district governing bodies.

According to DOLA, there are currently 2,306 Title 32 special districts in Colorado as of November 2018, though the number regularly fluctuates as districts are created and dissolve.

Typically, special districts are created to evenly divide the costs of services between all property owners and residents within the district.
There are several reasons why special districts are created.

Typically, special districts are created to evenly divide the costs of services between all property owners and residents within the district.

Special districts also provide the ability to finance larger infrastructure and public facility projects, and the costs are repaid over time as development occurs and property values increase.
Lastly, special districts provide more autonomy than local improvement districts that are directly created by a county or municipality to address more short-term problems.

Initially, voters decide whether a special district should be formed and who will serve on the board of directors.

Once a special district is created, the district's board may levy taxes, charge fees, and own property — consistent with the provisions of TABOR.
Types of Special Districts State law provides for several types of special districts, both general and specific.

Table 13 lists the general types of special districts with general authority under the Special District Act.

There are also statutory districts that have been added to Title 32 to serve specific areas for a specific purpose outlined in state law.

Table 14 lists these types of districts that have been legislatively established under Title 32.
Local Government Handbook 33 Table 13 General Types of Special Districts Under the Special District Act General Types of Districts Ambulance Districts Fire Protection Districts Forest Improvement Districts Health Assurance Districts Health Service Districts Mental Health Care Service Districts Metropolitan Districts Park and Recreation Districts Sanitation Districts Tunnel Districts Water Districts Water and Sanitation Districts Source: Section 32-1-103, C.R.S.

Metropolitan districts.


A metropolitan district is a type of special district that provides at least two of the following services:  fire protection;  mosquito control;  parks and recreation;  safety protection;  sanitation;  solid waste disposal facilities or collection and transportation of solid waste;  street improvement;  television relay and translation;  transportation; or  water.
Currently, Colorado has over 1,500 metropolitan districts, with over 100 new metropolitan districts formed recently.

This growth mirrors the state's rapid population growth over the past decade.

34 Local Government Handbook Table 14 Other Statutory Special Districts Under the Special District Act Special Statutory Districts Statutory Authority Moffat Tunnel Improvement District Section 32-8-101, et seq., C.R.S.

Regional Transportation District Section 32-9-101, et seq., C.R.S.
Three Lakes Water and Sanitation District Section 32-10-101, et seq., C.R.S.

Urban Drainage and Flood Control District Section 32-11-101, et seq., C.R.S.

Fountain Creek Watershed, Flood Control, and Greenway District Section 32-11.5-101, et seq., C.R.S.

Rail Districts Section 32-12-101, et seq., C.R.S.

Scientific and Cultural Facilities District Section 32-13-101, et seq., C.R.S.

Denver Metropolitan Major League Baseball Stadium District Section 32-14-101, et seq., C.R.S.
Metropolitan Football Stadium District Section 32-15-101, et seq., C.R.S.

Forest Improvement Districts Section 32-18-101, et seq., C.R.S.

Colorado New Energy Improvement District Section 32-20-101, et seq., C.R.S.

Organization and Oversight of Special Districts Approval of service plans.

Under state law, anyone interested in creating a special district must submit a service plan to any governing body that would be included in the district.
A service plan outlines the proposed services, the plan for financing the services, estimated capital costs, and proposed indebtedness.

The municipality or county where the proposed district is located is statutorily charged with reviewing and approving a district's service plan.

The board of county commissioners or the governing body of the municipality, whichever is applicable, is required to conduct public hearings and make its decision in accordance with statutory requirements.
A resolution to approve a special district must be adopted by any applicable board of county commissioners or governing body of a municipality.

A decision of a board of county commissioners or a governing body of a municipality regarding a special district's service plan is subject to judicial review.
Specifically, a service plan must include:  a description of the proposed services;  a financial plan showing how proposed services are to be financed, including the proposed operating revenue from property taxes for the first budget year;  a schedule showing the years in which the district debt will be issued;  a map of the district's boundaries;  an estimate of population and valuation for assessment within the district;  a description of facilities to be constructed; Local Government Handbook 35  an estimate of costs (land acquisition, engineering and legal services, administrative services, proposed debt and interest rates, and other organizational and operational expenses); and  proposed intergovernmental agreements for services.
Once approved, the service plan is a binding agreement between the district and the approving local government that spans the life of the district.

Any major modifications to the original service plan must be authorized by the approving local government.

Special district board meetings.

Official business of a special district board of directors must be conducted in meetings that are open to the public and when a quorum of the board is present.
Notice of board of director meetings must be posted in at least three public locations in the district and the office of the clerk and recorder in the county or counties where the district is located.

Elections.

District board members must be eligible electors and are elected by other eligible electors of the special district.

An eligible elector of a special district is a person who has been registered within the special district for at least 30 days.
It also includes an individual, or his or her spouse, who owns taxable real or personal property within the boundaries of a special district.

Eligible electors of special districts are entitled to sign the petition for organization, vote on the formation of the district, and be elected to the board of directors.
District elections are nonpartisan, must be held on the Tuesday succeeding the first Monday of May in even-numbered years, and must be conducted pursuant to the provisions of Colorado election laws.

Under House Bill 18-1038, special district elections will move to odd-numbered years beginning in 2023.

Term limits for special district boards of directors.
Under term limit provisions in the Colorado Constitution, members of special district boards of directors may not serve more than two consecutive four-year terms.

In addition, state law provides that at least four years must pass before a previously elected board member can run again for the office.

The voters of any political subdivision, including special districts, may lengthen, shorten, or eliminate the limitations on terms of office imposed by the constitution.

Recall of special district directors.


A recall election allows voters to remove and replace an elected official prior to the end of the official's term.

A special district director must hold office for at least six months before being subject to a recall election.

Recall elections for special district boards of directors are triggered when a petition is signed by the lesser of 300 eligible electors or 40 percent of the eligible electors demanding the recall of the board member named in the petition.
The grounds for the recall are not open to judicial review.

Proponents have up to 60 days to gather signatures after a recall petition form is approved by the election official.

If the election official determines that a recall petition sufficiently meets all of the requirements outlined in statute, it must be submitted to the special district’s Board of Directors at a regular or special meeting.
The recall election must be held 75 to 90 days after the date of this meeting; if the meeting is held within 180 days of the regular special district election, it must be held as a part of the regular election.

Annual budget.

Each special district must submit a budget to the Division of Local Government on an annual basis.

The budget must contain revenues, expenditures, and fund balances.
Each budget 36 Local Government Handbook must also contain a message regarding the significant budget issues for the year, the basis of accounting, and a description of leases to which the district is a party.

A draft budget must be presented to a district's board of directors by October 15, followed by a public hearing.
The budget document must then be adopted by December 31 — or December 15 if the district levies a property tax — and submitted to the Division of Local Government by January 31 of the budget year.

Special district budgets are available for review at the special district's office and at the Division of Local Government's Denver office.

Inactive districts.

State law allows a special district to become inactive and later reactivate.
However, a special district may only designate itself as inactive if it is in a predevelopment stage and the district has no:  residents within its boundaries, other than those living within the boundaries prior to the formation of the district;  business or commercial ventures within its boundaries;  general obligation or revenue debt;  property tax mill levy in that fiscal year; or  outstanding financial obligations or contracts.
During the period that a district is inactive, the district is exempt from certain requirements, such as submitting an annual budget, audit reports, and service plans to state and local entities.

Under state law, inactive districts may not issue any debt, impose a mill levy, or conduct any official business other than to conduct elections and to undertake procedures necessary to return to active status.

Dissolution of Special Districts Dissolution by petition.
Special district electors may petition the district's board of directors to hold an election to determine whether to dissolve the district.

The petition must be signed by at least 5 percent of the district's eligible electors or 250 eligible electors, whichever is less.

For districts with a population of at least 25,000, at least 3 percent of the eligible electors must sign the petition to cause a dissolution election.
The court will issue an order dissolving the district if a majority of voters within the district approve the dissolution.

A majority of a special district's board of directors may also petition the court to dissolve the district.

The court may enter an order dissolving the district without an election if the district lies wholly within the city limits of a municipality; has no financial obligations; and the board and governing body of the municipality consent to the dissolution.
However, the court must order a dissolution election if the lesser of 10 percent or 100 voters within the district request an election.

The court may also order a dissolution election for a district that has outstanding financial obligations if it determines that the plan for dissolution adequately provides for settlement of the outstanding debt.

Dissolution by administrative action.


The Division of Local Government may initiate the dissolution of a special district that fails to perform its statutory or service responsibilities.
If a district has no outstanding financial obligations, the division may initiate the dissolution of a district that fails to: Local Government Handbook 37  hold or properly cancel a regular board of directors election;  adopt a budget for two consecutive years;   provide, or attempt to provide, any of the services for which the district was organized for two comply with the Local Government Audit Law for two consecutive years; or consecutive years.
If the district fails to demonstrate that it has satisfied its statutory or service responsibilities, the division must submit a declaration of dissolution to the district court.

The court must determine whether to certify the district dissolved within 30 days of receiving the division's declaration.

Reporting Requirements Annual report on implementation of the service plan.
Special districts created after July 1, 1991, must file every year for five years after their organization a report about the implementation of the service plan with the local government that approved their service plans.

A special district must continue to file an annual report for succeeding years if requested by the county or municipal governing body.

The annual report must also be filed with the Division of Local Government in the Department of Local Affairs and the Office of the State Auditor.
The State Auditor is required to review the annual report and report to the Division of Local Government any apparent decrease in the financial ability of the district to discharge its existing or proposed indebtedness in accordance with the service plan.

The division must confer with the district and the county or municipal governing body regarding its financial condition.

Report to the State Auditor.


Under the Local Government Audit Law, an annual audit of the financial affairs of a special district must be completed by June 30 of each year and filed with the Office of the State Auditor by July 31.

This audit must include a financial statement that conforms with generally accepted governmental accounting principles.

Five-year report.
Five-year report.

State law allows an approving local government to request special districts to submit a detailed report on debt issuance and authorization activities every five years.

This report is described in statute as the "application for a quinquennial finding of reasonable diligence."
According to this law, an approving local government can prohibit a special district from issuing new debt by reviewing the five-year report and determining that the service plan will not result in the timely and reasonable discharge of the special district's general obligation debt.

Information provided to the electors of special districts.
Each year a special district is required to file a current and accurate map of its boundaries with the county clerk and recorder in each of the counties in which the special district is located.
By January 15 of each year, the board of a special district must also provide notice to eligible electors that includes the following information:   38 the address and telephone number of the principal business office of the special district; the name and business telephone number of the manager or other primary contact person of the special district; Local Government Handbook        the names of the members of the special district board, indicating each member whose office will be on the ballot at the next regular special district election; the times and places designated for regularly scheduled meetings of the board during the year and the place where notice of board meetings is posted; the current mill levy of the special district and the total ad valorem tax revenue received by the district during the prior year; the date of the next regular special district election at which members of the board will be elected; the procedure and time for an eligible elector of the special district to submit a self- nomination form for election to the board; the address of any website on which the special district's election results will be posted; and information on the procedure for an eligible elector to apply for a permanent absentee voter status with the special district.
Other types of improvement districts.

Special districts that are created under the Special District Act are often confused with other types of improvement districts formed by municipalities and counties to provide certain amenities, like sidewalks.

Unlike improvement districts, special districts have political autonomy and may exist indefinitely while improvement districts are typically dissolved once the improvement is complete and any debt incurred is paid off.
For example, special improvement districts (formed by municipalities) and local improvement districts (formed by counties) provide a particular amenity in a localized area, and the costs of the improvements are assessed directly against the benefitting property owners.
A board of county commissioners or the city council serves as the governing body of an improvement district, and the district typically dissolves as soon as any debt incurred by the county or municipality on behalf of the district is paid off.

Table 15 below identifies some improvement districts that are not governed by the Special District Act, but are often confused with special districts.
Business improvement districts, downtown development authorities, and urban renewal authorities are formed as adjunct entities by municipalities.

Cemetery districts, library districts, pest control districts, and weed control districts are formed by counties.

Irrigation districts, water conservancy districts, and water conservation districts are formed and governed by landowners.

All of these types of districts are governed by specific statutes and procedures distinct from the Special District Act.
Local Government Handbook 39 Table 15 Types of Districts that are not Governed by the Special District Act Type of District Statutory Authority Business Improvement Districts Part 12 of Article 25 of Title 31, C.R.S.

Cemetery Districts Part 8 of Article 20 of Title 30, C.R.S.

Conservation Districts Part 1 of Article 70 of Title 35, C.R.S.

Downtown Development Authorities Part 8 of Article 25 of Title 31, C.R.S.

Irrigation Districts Library Districts Articles 41, 42, and 43 of Title 37, C.R.S.
Part 1 of Article 90 of Title 24, C.R.S.

Local Improvement Districts Part 6 of Article 20 of Title 30, C.R.S.

Pest Control Districts Article 5 of Title 35, C.R.S.

Public Improvement Districts Part 5 of Article 20 of Title 30, C.R.S.

Special Improvement Districts Part 5 of Article 25 of Title 31, C.R.S.

Urban Renewal Authorities Part 1 of Article 25 of Title 31, C.R.S.

Water Conservancy Districts Article 45 of Title 37, C.R.S.
40 Local Government Handbook Section VII: Public Schools School Districts School districts are local government entities that provide educational services for children in preschool through 12th grade throughout the state.
The Colorado Constitution requires the General Assembly to provide for the establishment and maintenance of a thorough and uniform system of free public schools throughout the state for all residents between the ages of 6 and 21 years, and provides that one or more public schools must be maintained in each school district within the state for at least three months in each year.

There are currently 178 school districts in the state, with a funded pupil count of 871,141.
A list of Colorado school districts can be found in Appendix B.

There are currently 178 school districts in the state, with a funded pupil count of 871,141.

School boards.

Each school district is overseen by a school board elected by the school district voters.

The board determines the instruction for the public schools within the district.
Specific duties of the board include adopting policies and prescribing rules and regulations that are necessary for the efficient administration of the affairs of the district.

The school board hires a superintendent to handle the administration of the district’s policies, approve the district’s annual budget, and submit it to the appropriate county in order for sufficient property taxes to be levied to fund the annual budget.
Except for a few cases, school district boundaries are not contiguous with municipal or county boundaries.

Funding for school districts.

School districts are funded from a combination of federal, state, and local sources, as illustrated in Table 16.

The School Finance Act of 1994 establishes a formula that calculates a per pupil funding amount for each school district based on the individual characteristics of the district, such as the cost to live in the district and the number of students enrolled.
Under the act, each district's local portion, which is funded by local property taxes and specific ownership taxes, is calculated first.

Other local tax revenue may fund a portion of a school district’s operations and capital expenditures.

The state provides equalization funding that makes up the difference between the local portion and the total funding amount set by the General Assembly through the formula.
The state also provides additional funding for specific programs including, but not limited to, special education, gifted and talented, transportation, and competitive grant programs.

Federal funds are typically used to support specific programs or activities, such as special education, English language proficiency, or student assessments.

The following tables illustrate Colorado school district revenues and expenditures in FY 2016-17.
Local Government Handbook 41 Table 16 Colorado School District Revenues, FY 2016-17 Revenue Sources Revenue % of All Funds Local Revenue Property Taxes Specific Ownership Taxes and Other Local Revenue Total Local Revenue $3.9 billion $1.3 billion $5.2 billion State Revenue State Share of School Finance $4.1 billion Other State Revenue Total State Revenue $454.3 million $4.6 billion Federal Revenue 37.4% 12.5% 49.9% 39.2% 4.3% 43.5% Total Federal Revenue $717 million 6.8% Total School District Revenue $10.5 billion 100.0% Source: Colorado Department of Education.
Totals may not add up due to rounding.

Table 17 Colorado School District Expenditures, FY 2016-17 Expenditures Instruction Operations and Maintenance Other Support Services General Administration Student Support Services Food Services Pupil Transportation Other Expenditures Total School District Expenditures Source: Colorado Department of Education.
Expenditures % of Total $5.6 billion 47.8% $844.6 million $839.8 million $830.9 million $505.6 million $315.2 million $307.6 million $2.6 billion $11.8 billion 7.1% 7.1% 7.0% 4.3% 2.7% 2.6% 21.5% 100.0% 42 Local Government Handbook Types of Public Schools Public schools in Colorado are authorized to operate by either a school district or the Charter School Institute (CSI).

Online and charter schools may also be authorized by a district or the CSI.
Additionally, schools may be further designated as a magnet school, contract school, innovation school, or an alternative education campus under current law or district practice.

The Colorado Department of Education (CDE) is responsible for implementing state and federal education laws, dispersing funds, school accountability, and educator licensing for Colorado's schools.
The State Board of Education (SBE) is responsible for reviewing the attainment levels on performance indicators demonstrated by each public school, each school district, and the CSI.

The governance and management of public schools is controlled by either the local board of education or the board of directors of the charter school.

Online schools.

Online schools deliver educational services via the internet.

There are two main types of online schools in the state: supplemental and full-time.
Supplemental online programs allow a traditional school to offer a more diverse composition of courses (e.g., a unique foreign language or an advanced math topic).

Full-time online schools may deliver services as a distinct program within a traditional school, or as separate full-time school that operates exclusively in an online format.
Full-time online schools may be single-district schools (i.e., the school offers educational services primarily to students and families within the school district), or as multi-district schools, which enroll students statewide.

Full-time online education programs are authorized either by a local school district, the CSI, or by a board of cooperative educational services, all of which must be accredited by the state.
According to the CDE, there were 250 charter schools operating in Colorado in 2017-18, serving over 120,000 full-time students and representing over 13 percent of the total K-12 enrollment in the state.

Charter schools.

The Charter School Act gives parents, teachers, and community members the ability to create a partially autonomous school within a school district.
Charter schools are governed by an independent board of directors and generally have greater flexibility in curriculum, staff, fiscal management, and school operations than traditional public schools.

According to the CDE, there were 250 charter schools operating in Colorado in 2017-18, serving over 120,000 full-time students and representing over 13 percent of the total K-12 enrollment in the state.

Of these charter schools, 208 were authorized by school districts, and 42 were authorized by the CSI.
Magnet schools.

Magnet schools are administered by school districts to provide a certain focus, such as music, math, or science, or to provide a specific educational program, such as a Montessori school.

Contract schools.

Districts are allowed under current law to contract with nongovernmental entities to provide educational services.

Local Government Handbook 43 Innovation schools.

Innovation schools were authorized to operate by the General Assembly in 2008.
This legislation specified that any public school could submit an innovation plan to its local school board to implement innovative practices to improve student outcomes and to be designated as an innovation school.

Innovation schools can request waivers from some state laws and regulations, which requires approval by the SBE.

They can also request waivers from district policies, which requires approval of their local school board.
Collective bargaining agreement provisions can also be waived with approval from at least 60 percent of the members of the collective bargaining unit.

Innovation schools remain under the supervision of the local school board.

There were 98 innovation schools statewide in FY 2017-18.

Denver Public Schools has the largest number of innovation schools, with 49.

Alternative education campuses.


Certain schools can be designated by the SBE as an alternative education campus if they meet criteria specified in state law.

In general, these schools have a specialized mission and serve special needs or at-risk student populations.

Because of the unique circumstances and challenges faced by students in these schools, the accountability standards differ from other public schools in the state.
In FY 2017-18, 92 schools had been designated as alternative education campuses.

44 Local Government Handbook Section VIII: Initiative and Referendum Process for Local Governments Municipal initiatives and referendum.

The Colorado Constitution reserves the initiative and referendum powers for the registered electors of municipalities.

Municipalities may regulate the process for exercising the initiative and referendum process.
However, under the constitution, no city or town council can require more than 10 percent of the municipality's registered electors to order a referendum from the city or town council, and no more than 15 percent of its electors may be required to propose an initiative.

State law provides general requirements for municipal initiatives, referenda, and referred measures if the subject is not addressed through a municipal charter, ordinance, or resolution.
According to state law, any proposed measure can be submitted to the legislative body of any municipality by filing a petition signed by at least 5 percent of the registered electors of a city or town.

The proposed measure may be adopted without alteration by the legislative body or referred, in its original form, to the registered electors of the municipality at a regular or special election.

The measure takes effect if a majority of the registered electors vote in its favor.
State law further regulates the form of petitions, petition circulation, protests, and other elements of the initiative and referendum process.

Case law has held that legislative actions are subject to initiative and referendum provisions, while actions that are administrative or quasi-judicial in nature are not.

County initiatives and referendum.

The same initiative and referendum powers that are provided for cities and towns are not extended to Colorado counties.
However, any county home rule charter is required to include initiative and referendum procedures for a home rule county.
Additionally, state law specifically allows county voters, by initiative or referenda, to:  determine whether a home rule charter commission should be elected;  amend a county home rule charter;   change the method of electing county commissioners in counties over 70,000 in population; or increase or decrease the number of county commissioners between three and five in counties over 70,000 in population.
A board of county commissioners may also refer questions to county voters regarding whether to prohibit the operation of marijuana centers, approve the creation of improvement districts within specific areas of a county, or to determine whether certain services, like a county library, should be provided.

A board of county commissioners is also required to submit specific fiscal issues to county voters.
For example, a board of county commissioners must seek voter approval on questions related to county debt or questions regarding retaining excess revenue under the requirements of TABOR.

Local Government Handbook 45 This page intentionally left blank.

Section IX: Term Limits and Recall of Local Elected Officials Term Limits Colorado voters approved a constitutional amendment in 1994 that imposed term limits on local officials.
This amendment limited any non-judicial elected official of any county, city and county, city, town, school district, service authority, or any other political subdivision of the state to no more than two consecutive terms in office, or no more than three consecutive terms that are two years or less in duration.
State law allows voters to lengthen, shorten, or eliminate any term limits for elected officials through an election coordinated with the county clerk of each county in which the local government is located.

According to state law, county elected officials are elected for four-year terms.

The elected officials of a statutory municipality are elected to two-year terms, unless extended through an four-year ordinance.
State law allows voters to lengthen, shorten, or eliminate any term limits for elected officials through an election coordinated with the county clerk of each county in which the local government is located.

Also, any city, county, or city and county with home rule authority can determine whether term limitations are placed on elected officials.

terms to Recall A recall election allows voters to remove and replace an elected official prior to the end of the official's term.
Eligible electors of any political subdivision may initiate the recall of an elected official by signing a petition that calls for a recall and demands the election of a successor to the officer named in the petition.

While any local or state elected official in Colorado may be recalled, recall elections occur mostly at the local level.

Under state law, a recall petition must contain a general statement explaining the reason for the recall, which is not open to review.
Local elected officers are not subject to recall until they have held office for at least six months or if they are in the final six months of their term.

Additionally, only one recall petition and election can be filed against the same official during his or her term, unless a subsequent petition gathers enough signatures to equal 50 percent of the votes cast at the last preceding general election for all of the candidates for the office held by the current officer.
Recall elections are triggered when the required number of registered voters sign a recall petition.

For county and municipal elected officials, the required number of signatures is 25 percent of the votes cast for candidates for that office in the preceding election.

In the case of a recall of nonpartisan officers in other political subdivisions, such as special districts, a petition must be signed by the lesser of 300 eligible electors or 40 percent of the eligible electors of the political subdivision.
All recall proponents have up to 60 days to gather signatures after a petition form is approved by the appropriate election official.

Signatures on petitions can be protested, which results in a hearing by Local Government Handbook 47 the election official, but any protest hearing must be concluded within 30 days after the protest is filed.
In the case of recalling municipal officers, the governing body of a statutory city or town must set a date for a recall election between 30 to 90 days from when the petition is deemed sufficient.

However, if a general election is to be held within 180 days after a petition is deemed sufficient, the recall election must be held as part of the general election.

Other local governing boards must set a date for a recall election between 45 to 75 days from when the petition is deemed sufficient.
However, if a general election is to be held within 90 days after a petition is deemed sufficient, the recall election must be held as a part of the general election.
48 Local Government Handbook Appendix A: Colorado Municipalities City County City County Consolidated City and County Broomfield Broomfield County Denver Denver County Home Rule Municipalities Municipality Gypsum Municipality Alamosa Arvada Aspen Aurora Avon Black Hawk Boulder Breckenridge Brighton Burlington Canon City Carbondale Castle Rock Cedaredge Centennial Central City Cherry Hills Village Colorado Springs Commerce City Cortez Craig Crested Butte Dacono Delta Dillon Durango Edgewater Englewood Evans Federal Heights Fort Collins Fort Morgan Fountain Frisco Fruita Glendale Glenwood Springs Golden Grand Junction Greeley Greenwood Village Gunnison County Alamosa County Adams County, Jefferson County Pitkin County Adams County, Arapahoe County, Douglas County Eagle County Gilpin County Boulder County Summit County Adams County, Weld County Kit Carson County Fremont County Garfield County Douglas County Delta County Arapahoe County Clear Creek County, Gilpin County Arapahoe County El Paso County Adams County Montezuma County Moffat County Gunnison County Weld County Delta County Summit County La Plata County Jefferson County Arapahoe County Weld County Adams County Larimer County Morgan County El Paso County Summit County Mesa County Arapahoe County Garfield County Jefferson County Mesa County Weld County Arapahoe County Gunnison County Hayden Holyoke Johnstown Kiowa La Junta Lafayette Lakewood Lamar Larkspur Littleton Lone Tree Longmont Louisville Loveland County Eagle County Routt County Phillips County
 Larimer County, Weld County Elbert County Otero County Boulder County Jefferson County Prowers County Douglas County Arapahoe County, Douglas County, Jefferson County Douglas County Boulder County, Weld County Boulder County Larimer County Manitou Springs El Paso County Minturn Monte Vista Montrose Morrison Mount Crested Butte Mountain View Mountain Village New Castle Northglenn Ophir Ouray Pagosa Springs Parachute Parker Pueblo Rico Ridgway Rifle Sanford Sheridan Silt Silverthorne Snowmass Village Steamboat Springs Sterling Telluride Eagle County Rio Grande County Montrose County Jefferson County Gunnison County Jefferson County San Miguel County Garfield County Adams County, Weld County San Miguel County Ouray County Archuleta County Garfield County Douglas County Pueblo County Dolores County Ouray County Garfield County Conejos County Arapahoe County Garfield County Summit County Pitkin County Routt County Logan County San Miguel County Local Government Handbook 49 Appendix A: Colorado Municipalities (Cont.)
Municipality County Municipality County Yuma Yuma County Thornton Timnath Trinidad Vail Ward Westminster City/Town Aguilar Akron Alma Antonito Arriba Ault Basalt Bayfield Bennett Berthoud Bethune Blanca Blue River Bonanza Boone Bow Mar Branson Brookside Brush Buena Vista Calhan Campo Castle Pines Center Cheraw Cheyenne Wells Coal Creek Cokedale Collbran Home Rule Municipalities (Cont.)
Adams County, Weld County Wheat Ridge Larimer County Windsor Las Animas County Eagle County Boulder County Adams County, Jefferson County Winter Park Woodland Park Wray Statutory Cities and Towns County Las Animas County Washington County Park County Conejos County Lincoln County Weld County Eagle County, Pitkin County La Plata County Adams County, Arapahoe County Larimer County, Weld County Kit Carson County Costilla County Summit County Saguache County Pueblo County Arapahoe County, Jefferson County Las Animas County Fremont County Morgan County Chaffee County El Paso County Baca County Rio Grande County, Saguache County Otero County Cheyenne County Fremont County Las Animas County Mesa County City/Town Deer Trail Del Norte Dinosaur Dolores Dove Creek Eads Eagle Eaton Eckley Elizabeth Empire Erie Estes Park Fairplay Firestone Flagler Fleming Florence Fort Lupton Fowler Foxfield Fraser Frederick Garden City Genoa Gilcrest Granada Granby Grand Lake Columbine Valley Arapahoe County Green Mountain Falls Crawford City of Creede Crestone Cripple Creek Crook Crowley De Beque Delta County Mineral County Saguache County Teller County Logan County Crowley County Mesa County Grover Hartman Haswell Haxtun Hillrose Holly Hooper Jefferson County Larimer County, Weld County Grand County Teller County Yuma County County Arapahoe County Rio Grande County Moffat County Montezuma County Dolores County Kiowa County Eagle County Weld County Yuma County Elbert County Clear Creek County Boulder County, Weld County Larimer County Park County Weld County Kit Carson County Logan County Fremont County Weld County Otero County Arapahoe County Grand County Weld County Weld County Lincoln County Weld County Prowers County Grand County Grand County El Paso County, Teller County Weld County Prowers County Kiowa County Phillips County Morgan County Prowers County Alamosa County 50 Local Government Handbook Appendix A: Colorado Municipalities (Cont.)
City/Town County City/Town County Statutory Cities and Towns (Cont.)
Hot Sulphur Springs Hotchkiss Hudson Hugo Idaho Springs Ignacio Iliff Jamestown Julesburg Keenesburg Kersey Kim Kit Carson Kremmling La Jara LaSalle La Veta Lake City Lakeside Las Animas Leadville Limon Lochbuie Log Lane Village Lyons Manassa Mancos Manzanola Marble Mead Meeker Merino Milliken Moffat Montezuma Monument Naturita Nederland Norwood Nucla Nunn Oak Creek Olathe Olney Springs Orchard City Ordway Otis Ovid Palisade Grand County Delta County Weld County Lincoln County Clear Creek County La Plata County Logan County Boulder County Sedgwick County Weld County Weld County Las Animas County Cheyenne County Grand County Conejos County Weld County Huerfano County Hinsdale County Jefferson County Bent County Lake County Lincoln County Adams County, Weld County Morgan County Boulder County Conejos County Montezuma County Otero County Gunnison County Weld County Rio Blanco County Logan County Weld County Saguache County Summit County El Paso County Montrose County Boulder County San Miguel County Montrose County Weld County Routt County Montrose County Crowley County Delta County Crowley County Washington County Sedgwick County Mesa County Palmer Lake Paoli Paonia Peetz Pierce Pitkin Platteville Poncha Springs Pritchett Ramah Rangely Raymer Red Cliff Rockvale Rocky Ford Romeo Rye Saguache Salida San Luis Sawpit Sedgwick Seibert Severance Sheridan Lake Silver Cliff Silver Plume Silverton Simla South Fork Springfield Starkville Stratton Sugar City Superior Swink Two Buttes Victor Vilas Vona Walden Walsenburg
 Walsh Wellington Westcliffe Wiggins Wiley Williamsburg Yampa Georgetown Clear Creek County Territorial Charter Municipality El Paso County Phillips County Delta County Logan County Weld County Gunnison County Weld County Chaffee County Baca County El Paso County Rio Blanco County Weld County Eagle County Fremont County Otero County Conejos County Pueblo County Saguache County Chaffee County Costilla County San Miguel County Sedgwick County Kit Carson County Weld County Kiowa County Custer County Clear Creek County San Juan County Elbert County Rio Grande County Baca County Las Animas County Kit Carson County Crowley County Boulder County, Jefferson County Otero County Baca County Teller County Baca County Kit Carson County Jackson County Huerfano County Baca County Larimer County Custer County Morgan County Prowers County Fremont County Routt County Local Government Handbook 51 This page intentionally left blank.
Appendix B: Colorado School Districts School District Academy Adams 12 Agate Aguilar Akron Alamosa Archuleta Arickaree Arriba-Flagler Aspen Ault-Hghlnd Aurora Bayfield Bennett Bethune Big Sandy Boulder Branson Briggsdale Brighton Brush Buena Vista Buffalo Burlington Byers Calhan Campo Canon City Centennial Center Cheraw Cherry Creek Cheyenne Mountain Cheyenne R-5 Clear Creek Colorado Springs Commerce City Cotopaxi Creede Cripple Creek Crowley Debeque Deer Trail Del Norte Delta Denver Dolores Dolores Douglas Durango Eads Eagle County El Paso Adams, Broomfield Elbert Las Animas Washington Alamosa Archuleta Washington Kit Carson Pitkin Weld Arapahoe, Adams La Plata Adams Kit Carson Elbert Boulder, Broomfield Las Animas Weld Adams Morgan Chaffee Logan Kit Carson Arapahoe El Paso Baca Fremont Conejos Saguache, Rio Genade, Alamosa Otero Arapahoe El Paso Cheyenne Clear Creek El Paso Adams Fremont Mineral Teller Crowley Mesa, Garfield Arapahoe Rio Grande Delta, Gunnison, Montrose, Mesa Denver Dolores Montezuma Douglas La Plata Kiowa Eagle School District East Grand East Otero East Yuma Eaton Edison Elbert Elizabeth Ellicott Englewood Estes Park Falcon (School District 49) Florence Fort Lupton Fountain Fowler Frenchman Ft Morgan Genoa-Hugo Gilcrest Gilpin Granada Greeley Gunnison Hanover Harrison Haxtun Hayden Hi Plains Hinsdale Hoehne Holly Holyoke Huerfano Idalia Ignacio Jefferson Johnstown Julesburg Karval Keenesburg Kim Kiowa Kit Carson La Veta Lake Lamar Las Animas Lewis-Palmer Liberty Limon Littleton Lone Star
 County Grand Otero Yuma Weld El Paso, Pueblo, Lincoln Elbert Elbert El Paso Arapahoe Larimer El Paso Logan Morgan El Paso Otero Fremont Garfield Lincoln Weld Gilpin Prowers Weld Gunnison El Paso El Paso Phillips Routt Hinsdale Kit Carson Las Animas Prowers Phillips Huerfano Yuma La Plata Jefferson, Broomfield Weld Sedgwick Lincoln Weld Las Animas Elbert Cheyenne Huerfano Lake Prowers Bent El Paso Yuma Lincoln Arapahoe Washington Local Government Handbook 53 Appendix B: Colorado School Districts (Cont.)
School District Strasburg Stratton Summit Swink Telluride Thompson Trinidad Valley Vilas Walsh Weldon West End West Grand West Yuma Westcliffe Westminster Widefield Wiggins Wiley Windsor Woodland Park Woodlin County Adams Kit Carson Summit Otero San Miguel Larimer Las Animas Logan Baca Baca Morgan Montrose Grand Yuma Custer Adams El Paso Morgan Prowers Weld Teller Washington School District Mancos Manitou Springs Manzanola Mapleton Mcclave Meeker Mesa Valley Miami-Yoder Moffat Moffat Monte Vista Montezuma Montrose Mtn Valley North Conejos North Park Norwood Otis Ouray Parachute Park Pawnee Peyton Plainview Plateau Plateau Platte Canyon Platte Vly Platte Vly Poudre Prairie Primero Pritchett Pueblo City Pueblo Rural Rangely Ridgway Rifle Roaring Fork Rocky Ford Salida Sanford Sangre Decristo Sargent Sheridan Sierra Grande Silverton South Conejos South Routt Springfield St. Vrain Steamboat Springs County Montezuma El Paso Otero Adams Bent Rio Blanco Mesa El Paso, Elbert, Lincoln Moffat Saguache Rio Grande Montezuma Montrose Saguache Conejos Jackson San Miguel Washington Ouray Garfield Park Weld El Paso Kiowa Logan Mesa Park Sedgwick Weld Larimer Weld Las Animas Baca Pueblo Pueblo Rio Blanco Ouray Garfield Garfield Otero Chaffee Conejos Alamosa Rio Grande Arapahoe Conejos San Juan Conejos Routt Baca Boulder, Weld, Larimer, Broomfield Routt 54 Local Government Handbook