Official position on several state bills taken
Larimer County Commissioners took official positions on a variety of issues currently before the state legislature, on topics like just-cause eviction and county elections, that impact Larimer County specifically, at their weekly administrative matters meeting Tuesday morning.
The commissioners officially registered their support for a bill that would strengthen just-cause eviction protections, a bill that would expand workforce programs in forestry and a bill that would aid reforestation in Colorado, but came out in strong opposition to a bill that would require larger counties like Larimer to have five county commissioners instead of three, and require them to be voted on by residents of their individual districts rather than all residents in the county, as is the case now.
Commissioners said that the bill, HB 23-1180, which is not funded by the state, would put extra costs on counties for staffing, equipment and infrastructure purposes, and would make commissioners less responsive to constituents outside their districts.
An initial estimate indicated a potential cost to the county of approximately $400,000 per year, said Public Affairs Director Michelle Bird.
The law would apply only to counties with more than 70,000 residents.
“Honestly the situation you get into when you get people elected by district is that people get siloed a bit…” said Commissioner Kristin Stephens on Tuesday. “People can just look at the needs of their own district and not look at the county as a whole.”
She added that there has not been any sizable community request for such a change, which can be done through a local measure. Stephens said that if the public were interested in such a thing, the commissioners would welcome the discussion and a potential ballot measure.
“We’d like it to come from the community, not from the state,” she said.
Jody Shadduck-mcnally, chair of the board of county commissioners, said that she would testify remotely against the bill.
Commissioner John
Kefalas also mentioned a proposed amendment that would exempt Adams County from the rule requiring commissioners be elected by members of their districts, which he described as an attempt to win votes.
The other commissioners agreed, with Shadduck-mcnally, describing it as “frustrating and disappointing.”
“This is the kind of politics people don’t like,” Stephens said.
The commissioners were supportive of a bill that would expand protections for renters, strengthening “just-cause” eviction protections, which prevent residents from being evicted so long as they pay rent, do not violate lease agreements or cure violations of lease agreements within a designated time frame.
Exceptions would exist for situations where landlords seek to destroy or seriously renovate the property, or in situations where landlords or a family member plan to move into the property as a primary dwelling.
Fees of two months rent, or three in the case of eviction of a household with a disabled, minor or elderly or low income renter, would be due to residents who are evicted in violation of the new law if it passed.