News
Elbert 9-19-2013
Elbert County
September 19, 2013
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A Colorado Community Media Publication
ourelbertcountynews.com
Elbert County, Colorado • Volume 118, Issue 34
Taxing issues prompt debate Commissioners’ talk gets testy before ballot question OK’d By George Lurie
glurie@ourcoloradonews.com
Kiowa residents Taylor Shaffer, left, “almost 9,” and her brother Austin, 6, check out one of the more unusual items offered at the “Jazz Up Our Junk” silent auction — a “suitcase table” donated by Julie McClain.
Auction benefits nonprofit
More than 120 people attended the fifth annual”Jazz Up Our Junk” silent auction fundraiser, held Sept. 14 in Elizabeth. The event, which featured live music and offered attendees the opportunity to bid on dozens of “refurbished, redecorated and repurposed” items, was sponsored by ECCO, the Elbert County Coalition for Outreach, a nonprofit organization that provides emergency support services for families and children in need. ECCO executive director Pam Witucki said this year’s event raised ”a little more than $2,000.” Colorado Springs guitar player George Whitesell provided the entertainment at the Sept. 14 fundraiser, his fourth year entertaining at the event.
PhotoS by GeorGe Lurie
Elbert County welcomes new clerk Dallas Schroeder sworn in to replace Diana Hartsough By George Lurie
glurie@ourcoloradonews.com Elbert County has a new clerk and recorder. After being appointed by county commissioners in August, Dallas Schroeder was officially sworn into office earlier this month at a special meeting of the Board of County Commissioners. More than a dozen family members and supporters gathered on the second floor of the county courthouse on Sept. 4 to witness Schroeder’s swearing-in, administered by 18th Judicial District Judge Jeffrey Holmes. An Elizabeth resident and businessman, Schroeder replaces Diana Hartsough, who resigned July 5, citing “health issues.” Schroeder will serve the remainder of Hartsough’s term, which expires in January 2015. He will be paid an annual salary of $49,800. Dallas Schroeder, left, Elbert County’s new clerk and recorder, is shown moments after being sworn in by Judge Jeffrey Schroeder is a member of the Legacy Holmes. Photo by George Lurie Academy School Board and is also very active in his church. He was scheduled to be formally introduced at last week’s county POSTAL ADDRESS commissioner’s regular meeting, but Chairman Robert Rowland announced at the beginning of the meeting, “Dallas has hit the Printed on recycled ground running and is tied up in another newsprint. Please meeting this morning. So unfortunately he recycle this copy. won’t be able to be with us today.” At his swearing-in, Rowland praised Schroeder’s “dedication” and “tireless” work Clerk continues on Page 12
Kurt Schlegel didn’t mince words at a special meeting of the Elbert County commissioners, held earlier this month to approve language for a proposed mill levy tax hike. “This is very serious,” the District 2 commissioner said about the county’s financial condition. “We’re circling the drain.” But at that Sept. 4 meeting, District 3 Commissioner Larry Ross offered a less alarming perspective, saying Schlegel was “overdramatizing.” “I take offense with the ‘circling the drain’ reference,” Ross added. The prickly exchange Schlegel between commissioners came during a debate on ballot-question language for a proposed property tax mill levy increase that could raise county residents’ taxes by as much as four mills. On a $200,000 residential property, a four-mill increase would cause a hike of $63.68 per year in taxes, said Tim Buchanan, a consultant under contract with the county. Tax increases of any kind tend to be a hot-button issue in Elbert County. But with Schlegel and Board Chair Robert Rowland, who represents District 1, ultimately supporting the proposed ballot language, the measure passed 2-1 with Ross in the minority,and the tax hike question will appear on the November 5 ballot. The tax increase is being proposed to shore up the county’s anemic General Fund, a state of affairs current Board of County Commissioners members attribute, at least in part, to financial mismanagement by previous administrations. Between 2006 and 2009, county operating expenses exceeded revenues by nearly $4.5 million, forcing commissioners to institute a number of cost-cutting measures including layoffs, pay cuts and the reduction of the work week for county employees from 40 to 36 hours. The county’s financial health — or lack thereof — has been impacted by construction of a new courthouse and jail facility, which was completed in 2008 and 100 percent financed by county residents. Construction of the new Justice Center, which houses district and county courts as well as the sheriff’s office, was necessitated by serious, ongoing issues with mold contamination in the old courthouse facility. But unfortunately for Elbert County, the completion of the new Justice Center coincided with the financial crisis in 2008 that saw stocks crash and real estate values crumble. Since the Justice Center opened, says County Treasurer Rick Pettitt, county property “valuations and the amount of taxes being collected have decreased but the amount of debt (incurred by construction of the facility) has remained the same.” According to a report discussed at the
Taxing continues on Page 12