Adams County Adopts $450 Million Budget for 2017

The Adams County Board of Commissioners adopted the $450 million 2017 budget at a public hearing on Tuesday, Dec. 13.

Top priorities in the 2017 budget, set at $451,404,490, a 3.5% increase from 2016, are investments in core infrastructure to address the continued growth of Adams County, Colorado’s fifth-largest county by population. Infrastructure projects include building a 45,000-square foot county animal shelter with an adjacent community dog park; several road and bridge construction projects, including York Street and Highway 24 to 78th Avenue; completing a new Community Corrections building; and purchasing new transportation equipment with an emphasis on eastern Adams County.

“By adopting this budget, we are taking the next step in securing a successful future for Adams County,” said Steve O’Dorisio, Board of Commissioners Chairman. “We will continue to make great progress in our strategic plan and meeting our goals to provide a superior quality of life, outstanding educational and economic opportunities, and a safe and reliable infrastructure for our residents and businesses.”

Other priorities outlined in the 2017 budget include:

  • Maintain structural balance for all county funds.
  •  Incorporate a multi-year capital improvement plan into the budget process.
  • Provide a competitive compensation and benefits plan for employee retention and attraction.
  • Align the 2017 projects with the Board of County Commissioners’ strategic goals.

The county’s Budget Office, headed by Budget Manager Nancy Duncan and supported by analysts Pernell Olson, Raylene Taylor, and Mark Kluth, has worked with County Manager Todd Leopold and his staff since April planning and preparing the proposed 2017 budget. In the process, the group sought input from all elected officials and department directors.

The mission of the Budget Office is to develop a financial plan that ensures the health, safety, and welfare of county residents. Adams County is committed to adopting a budget that facilitates the orderly and efficient delivery of county government services, as directed by the Local Government Budget Law of Colorado, other governmental mandates, policy directives developed by the Board of County Commissioners, and citizen feedback.