2011 Town Hall MeetingsCommissioner Darryl Glenn

Commissioner District 1

EL PASO

COUNTY

COLORADO

2

Presentation Overview

1. District 1 Capital Improvement Projects

2. Military Economy & Outlook

3. 2012 Fiscal Outlook

4. Citizen Engagement Survey

5. Redistricting and Realignment

District 1 Capital Improvement Projects

Completed in 2011

Timberview Filing 2 Subdivision Acceptance

Location:• Bridle Creek Court and Lamplight Drive / Furrow Road intersectionDescription: • Install a drainage system with inlet; establish and stabilize roadside

ditches; replace culvert Funding Source: • $52,243 / Subdivision Improvement Agreement Collateral (called by

BoCC to finish drainage not done by developer)

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Highway 105 Guardrail Installation

Location:• Highway 105 at Monument Academy Charter SchoolDescription:• Installation of approximately 460 feet of guardrail along north side of

road Funding Source: • Materials on-hand / Road and Bridge

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District 1 Capital Improvement Projects

Under Construction in 2011

Hodgen Road Improvements

Location: • State Highway 83 to Black Forest RoadDescription:• Safety Improvements – Improve vertical alignment; intersection site

distance; add auxiliary lanes; reduce impact of drifting snowFunding source: • $13.1M / PPRTA Capital

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District 1 Capital Improvement Projects

Planning / Design Stage in 2011

Black Forest Road / Burgess Road Intersection

Location: • Intersection of Black Forest Road and Burgess Road Description: • Reconstruction – Improve the vertical alignments; add auxiliary lanes;

improve drainage; upgrade traffic signalFunding: • Estimated $1.85M (total project); $800,000 currently funded for utility

relocation and Right of Way acquisitions from Road & Bridge Funds

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County Line Road / Black Forest Road

Location:• County Line Road from Thunder to Black Forest Road; Black Forest

Road from County Line to Walker Description:• Safety Improvements – County Line / Black Forest intersection,

drainage; add pavementFunding: • Estimated $6.5M (total project); Currently approved $800,000 from

Road and Bridge Funds for Right of Way Acquisition and Utility Relocation

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County Line Road Improvements

Location: • I-25 to Furrow Road Description: • Safety Improvements-add shoulders, improve drainage, reconfigure

horizontal and vertical profile west of Furrow Road and realign the intersection at Furrow Road and provide turn lanes

Funding: • Est. cost – $7M-$7.5 M / PPRTA Capital

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Baptist Rd (West) Improvements

Location: • I-25 to Mitchell Ave Description: • Planning and alternative traffic flow analysis. • Baptist Rd Widening Mitchell to I-25 and Baptist RR Xing. • Evaluate appropriate improvements for the corridor, including construction of a

grade separated RR crossing Funding: • Study – (approx) $181K / PPRTA Capital • Project – (approx) $11M / PPRTA Capital /BRRTA/Other

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Highway 105 Improvements Location: • I-25 to SH 83 Description: • Examine capacity and safety

issues for the corridor and recommend improvements to address the identified issues

Funding: • $300,000 / Road and Bridge

(only study is funded)Project website: • www.105corridor.com

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Gleneagle Enhancement

Location: • Gleneagle from Jesse to

Wuthering Heights DriveDescription: • Pedestrian safety improvements

Funding: • Est. $119,000

– $95,000 Federal Funds – $24,000 EPC Road and

Bridge

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Beacon Lite Road Improvements

Location: • County Line Road to Wakonda WayDescription: • Safety Improvements – Horizontal

and vertical alignments• County Line / Beacon Lite

intersection and drainage• Pave road Funding: • Est. $2.8M TBD

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District 1 Capital Improvement

Other Project Updates

Doewood Gate Location: • Doewood Drive from

Ridgeview Circle to Chisholm Trail

Description: • Vacate a portion of Doewood

Drive • Remove gate • Add emergency vehicle and

maintenance access and turnaround at both points of termination.

Status: • Survey Complete, Meetings to

be scheduled with Fire Dept and adjacent property owners

Gate Location

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Northgate Boulevard Improvements

Location: • Struthers Drive from

Gleneagle to Northgate Boulevard

Description: • Shoulder and ditch

erosion• Built by Developer

formed Struthers Road District Bonds

• No storm drain system • As a result, regular

reconstruction of the shoulder is required.

Status:• Shoulder/ditch line repaired

to address the immediate safety hazard

• Ultimate solution requires curb and gutter and storm drain system.  

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Fox Run Regional Park

• Master Plan Calls for:– Restroom, Parking Lot and Trail Improvements

– Construction of Off Leash Dog Park

• Public Input Process Spring of 2012• Construction in Summer of 2012• Funding: $100,000 from Regional Park Fees

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Black Forest Regional Park

• Master Plan Updated in 2010 Identified:– Needed Parking, Well, Restroom and Trail Improvements

– Required Upgrades to Signage

– Required Initiating Mistletoe Mitigation Plan

• Funding: – $400,000 From Developer (Cathedral Pines)

– $200,000 From GOCO Grant

• Scheduled Completion in Fall of 2012

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Pineries Open Space

• County Accepted 1070 Acres in 2007• Master Plan Completed in 2010 Requires:

– Five Miles of Trails with Trailhead Parking and Restroom

– Outdoor Classroom and Appropriate Signage

• Cost: Est. Phase One Projects - $460,000• Funding: Regional Park Fees and Grants (still

needed)

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Military Economy & Outlook

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Economic Impact of Military InstallationsTotal Impact: $5.5B

Military Economy

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Military Economy

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Military Outlook

• Military is dealing with $450B in cuts over the next 10 years – painful but doable

• There is much concern about the “doomsday” scenario:– Super Committee allows sequestration to occur (i.e. it does

not come up with $1.2T in cuts over the next ten years)

– This automatically triggers a defense share for those cuts of about $500B more over ten years, beginning in FY13

– Such cuts would span across personnel, major programs, entitlements, etc.

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Military Outlook

• On a positive note…– Army leadership is confident that the Combat

Aviation Brigade is on track– The MILCON is planned and in the FY12 budgets– Received briefing from by MG Joe Anderson, the

incoming Commanding General for the 4th Infantry Division and Ft Carson

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Veterans Cemetery Update

• El Paso County Kane Ranch is Preferred Site by the Veterans Administration

• Fountain Has Adequate Water for the Site But VA Funds Cannot be Used to Build the Required Pipeline Estimated at $1.2 Million

• Stakeholders Including El Paso County, El Pomar and Others Working on Solution

• Outlook is Positive

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2012 Fiscal Outlook

Understanding the Budget

Understanding the County Budget

2012 Budgeted Revenues $235.7M

Less: Restricted Funding Sources ($100.1M)

Less: Legally Restricted Uses ($ 48.9M)

Revenues Within BoCC Discretion $ 86.7M

Only 36% of the 2012 Budget is within BoCC discretion

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Examples of Restricted Funding

• Enterprise Zone Contributions by Private Citizens to Non-Profits

• Fees Paid by Trash Haulers to Offset Disposal of Household Hazardous Waste

• Lotto Funds Restricted for Parks• Developer Fees for Specific Transportation Needs

*These cannot be used to offset jail inmate food and medical costs and other required services.

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Use of Discretionary Revenue

Function $ in Millions %

Public Safety $52.7 61%

Other Elected Offices $11.1 13%

Administrative Support $7.7 9%

Information Technology $7.4 9%

Utilities $4.3 5%

Parks $1.1 1%

Health Department Support $2.4 3%

$86.7 100%

ALLOCATION OF REVENUES

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Discretionary Revenue vs. Population Growth

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Annual Cost Per Citizen

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How Did We Offset the Decreasing Discretionary Revenue?

2006 – 2009 Historical Budget Reductions (in Millions)

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BoCC & Administration $4.5Community Services (Parks) $3.9Public Services (Roads & Fleet) $12.9Support Services (IT) $4.8Department of Human Services $2.3

TOTAL Administrative Services: $28.4 27.5%

Elected/Appointed Offices:Assessor $0.2Clerk & Recorder $1.9Treasurer $0.1Public Safety $4.8Public Trustee $0.2

TOTAL Elected/Appointed Offices: $7.2 11.0%

County Attorney $0.2 20.6%

Health Department Support $2.2 57.6%

Other Budgeting Options $7.2

TOTAL Budget Reductions $45.2 21.9%

2012 Fiscal Outlook

Proactive Financial Strategies

Operational Sustainability• In 2009, County achieved operational sustainability

– Stopped using one-time funding sources to address on-going operational needs

• Projected budget shortfall for 2012 due to current market conditions and Property Tax Revenues– Established savings strategy

• Conservative Revenue Estimates

• Frozen Positions not filled

• Incorporated expenditure restrictions

Proactive Financial Strategies 2009 - “Turning Point”

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Proactive Financial Strategies Historic Percentage Held In Reserves

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Good Economic Times

Proactive Financial Strategies Breakdown of 39% Operational Reserve

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2010 Strategic Moves Project• With the increasing cost of failing infrastructure

– Backlog of $385M

• County created the “Strategic Moves” project– Using only available restricted revenue sources

– Utilizing One-time market opportunities

– Addressed 52% of Critical Capital Needs ($199M)

• Currently working on a new critical capital needs master plan

Proactive Financial Strategies

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County Bond Rating Improved in 2010Aa2 “County’s strong credit characteristics...historically well-

maintained financial operations with healthy fund balances...” - Moody’s

“Moody’s expects that the County’s financial position will remain healthy, given conservative budgeting practices and consistently improving financial results....”

- Moody’s

Proactive Financial Strategies

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County Bond Rating improved in 2010

“El Paso County’s financial performance and reserve level position continue to be in our opinion, very strong..”

- Standard & Poor’s

“Standard & Poor’s deems El Paso County’s management practices “good” under its Financial Management Assessment methodology ....” - Standard & Poor’s

Proactive Financial Strategies

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2012 Fiscal Outlook

Current Financial Condition

From a Financial Perspective, we are doing everything we should and more!– Conservative in our spending– Fiscally responsible with taxpayers dollars– Living within our means– Addressed over 50% of our Major Capital Needs

without any increase in taxpayer dollars– Proactively established an Operational Savings to

weather the storm in 2012- 2014

Current Financial Condition

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During the worst economic downturn since the Great Depression, we have actually been able to improve our financial situation

But at what cost?

Current Financial Condition

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Current Financial Condition

Operating Budgets:

• Are at the operational level they were in 1996: – No “Across the Board” operational increases since

1996 as:– Cost Drivers (Price Index) increased 38.7% – Service Drivers (Population) increased 30.1%

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Personnel Budgets:• 2007-2009 eliminated 195 positions and froze 100 positions• 2003-2011 Federal Cost of Living (COLA)

• National Increases were 21.7%

• El Paso County only provided 5.0%

• High Turnover Rates– On average, employers have 5% turnover, El Paso County has 22%

turnover

– Industry studies show it costs an additional 49% of that position’s salary each time a turnover occurs in training

Current Financial Condition

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Average Salaries (in thousands) Provided by Support Services - EBMS

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This means County employees are paid on average 34% less than

our competitors

Number of Full-Time Employees vs. Population Growth

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Citizens Served Per Employee

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This means on average, County

Employee’s workload has

increased 20%

2012 Fiscal Outlook In Summary

• El Paso County is a fiscally responsible, strong, sustainable organization

• However, the County still has $48.5M of Critical Needs both on-going and one-time

• Now that the County has built operational savings, the responsible and appropriate thing to do is to start addressing those Critical Needs

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County Strategic Plan

Citizen Engagement Survey

Citizen Engagement Survey

• Online public input survey

• Conducted in the summer 2011

• 1,300 respondents

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Citizen Engagement Survey

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Quality of Life Issues Excellent Good Fair Poor Not Sure

           

El Paso County as a place to live 33% 52% 13% 2% 0%

           

El Paso County as a place to raise children

30% 48% 14% 3% 5%

           

Overall quality of life in El Paso County

27% 55% 15% 3% 0%

           El Paso County as a place to retire

28% 43% 17% 5% 7%

Citizen Engagement Survey

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County Statements Strongly Agree

Agree DisagreeStrongly Disagree

Not Sure

           

I receive good value for my County taxes

11% 51% 20% 5% 13%

           I understand how County funding is allocated and services I receive

8% 40% 27% 7% 18%

           

I am pleased with the overall direction of the County

5% 41% 31% 9% 14%

           

The County listens to its citizens 5% 33% 29% 11% 22%

Citizen Engagement Survey

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Funding / Efficiency Strongly Agree

Agree DisagreeStrongly Disagree

Not Sure

 I support the expansion of shared city / county services

44% 39% 6% 5% 6%

 I support a minor increase in my property taxes to enhance County services

28% 24% 23% 20% 5%

 I support a minor increase in sales tax to support enhanced County services

28% 30% 18% 19% 5%

Citizen Engagement Survey

Top Five Community Issues 1. Employment Opportunities

2. Drugs / Alcohol Abuse

3. Quality of Road System

4. Crime

5. Child Abuse

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Citizen Engagement Survey

Top Five Most Used County Services 1. Visited a County Park

2. Utilized the County Website

3. Voted in El Paso County

4. Registered a Motor Vehicle

5. Visited a County Nature Center

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Citizen Engagement Survey

Top Five County Priorities*1. Fire Protection Services

2. Road Maintenance

3. Crime Investigation Services

4. Emergency Management Services

5. Public Safety Efforts

(*If additional funding is available)

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Redistricting and Realignment

Congressional Districts

State Lawmakers

Board of County Commissioners

Congressional Reapportionment

• The Colorado General Assembly Is to Draft a New Congressional District Map After the Census

• But They Couldn’t Reach an Agreement

• Two Lawsuits Are Pending in Denver District Court

• The Court Will Determine a Map and a Ruling is Expected in December of 2011

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General Assembly Redistricting

• Appointed Bipartisan Panel Takes Public Comment and Drafts Initial map

• The Committee Seeks Public Comments On The Plan

• A Final Plan is Drafted After The Comments and is Submitted for Approval to the Colorado Supreme Court

• The Colorado Supreme Court Has Until December 14, 2011 to Rule

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Redistricting

• Once redistricting and reapportionment are approved by the Courts new boundaries and precinct lines are drawn (in December)

• Total number of precincts will be reduced

• Fewer polling places and fewer election judges are needed as more citizens choose mail in ballots.

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Redistricting Continued

• Clerk and Recorder plans to renumber precincts by School District Boundaries as follows:

0-199   Colorado Springs D-11– 200s     Academy District 20– 300s     Lewis Palmer D-38– 400s     Falcon D-49– 500s     Eastern Plains School Districts– 600s     Harrison D-2 & Widefield D-3– 700s     Cheyenne Mtn. D-12 and Manitou D-14– 800s     Fountain-Fort Carson 8 and Hanover 28

– 900s     Special (e.g. overseas)

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Impacts of Redistricting

• County Clerk Wayne Williams is currently named as a plaintiff in the Congressional Redistricting lawsuit

• We are fighting to keep El Paso whole– Our five military bases give us a valuable position

on the Armed Services Committee

• We also hope because of our large population that we will have 8 State House Districts completely within the boundaries of El Paso County

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County Commissioner Realignment

• Done every two years by the County Clerk

• Population Must Remain Balanced

• Open and Public Process With a 30 day Comment Period

• Relatively Minor Adjustments Were Made

• Approved Unanimously by the BoCC

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Commissioner Darryl Glenn

Email: DarrylGlenn@ElPasoCo.com

Phone: 719-520-6411

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Questions?