History
Founded in 1861
“El Paso” is Spanish for “the pass”
County acts as a “pass” between
the great plains and the mountain
region
First inhabitants
Ute
Cheyenne
Arapahoe
Kiowa
Economy took off in 1890’s when gold
was discovered in Cripple Creek
Demographics
Population - 575,851
Largest population of Colorado’s 64 counties
Size - 2,129.97 square miles
Lowest point - 5,052 feet - Chico Creek
Highest point - 14,110 feet – Summit of Pikes
Peak
Open space - over 230 square miles
Paved road - 900 miles
Unpaved road - 1,075 miles
Demographics
(Continued)
Lowest mill levy of ten largest counties in Colorado
7.673 per $1,000 of taxable value
Includes eight municipalities
Colorado Springs
Green Mountain Falls
Monument
Calhan
Palmer Lake
Fountain
Manitou Springs
Ramah
Average population growth of 18.5 percent over 10
years
El Paso County’s 2005
Property Tax Comparison (per person)
*Per Ten County Budget Data Book
Elected Officials
Board of County Commissioners
(five members)
Assessor
Clerk and Recorder
Coroner
District Attorney
Sheriff
Surveyor
Treasurer
Appointed Department Heads
Internal Auditor
Human Services Director
Senior Services
Veteran Services
Social Services
County Administrator
County Attorney
Employment Services
Intergovernmental Affairs
Administrative Departments –
External Services
Development Services
Environmental Services
Justice Services
Parks & Leisure Services
Public Communications
Transportation
Administrative Departments –
Internal Services
Employee Benefits & Medical
Services
Facilities Management
Financial Services
Fleet Management
Information Management
Procurement & Contracts
Security & Parking
2006 County Budget
Public Safety
61,809,449
25.3%
Auxillary Services
4,537,797
1.9%
Public Works
25,549,552
10.5%
Culture & Recreation
4,043,609
1.7%
General Government
46,480,735
19.0%
Health & Welfare
49,829,608
20.4%
Interfund Transfers
32,040,548
13.1%
Community
Investment/Economic
Development
19,968,016
8.2%
2006 Annual County Budget: $244,259,314
Annual cost of county services per resident: $237.25
Commissioners
Sallie Clark
District 3
Chair
Jim Bensberg
District 5
3rd Commissioner
Wayne Williams
District 1
Dennis Hisey
District 4
Vice Chair
Douglas Bruce
District 2
Board of County Commissioners
Administrative and policymaking body
Has only such powers and
authority as are granted by
the General Assembly of the
Colorado State Legislature
Made-up of five
constitutional officers
Four-year term (two terms
maximum)
Board of County Commissioners
(Continued)
Districts are equal in population
District boundaries are established by the
board every two years
Board of County Commissioner meetings
Mondays and Thursdays (except for July and
August)
9 a.m.
27 East Vermijo, Third Floor Hearing Room
Assessor
Studies the market and collects information
about properties
Discovers, lists and values all real and taxable
personal property in the county
Determines actual market value of residential
properties
Compares sales information for nonresidential property
John Bass
Clerk and Recorder
Election Department
Motor Vehicle Department
Drivers License Department
Recording Department
Robert Balink
Records
Ensures permanent records are
readily retrievable to public
review
Clerk and Recorder
(Continued)
Clerk to Board of County Commissioners
Prepares, processes, and preserves the records of
proceedings and papers for the
Board of County Commissioners
Social Services Board
Liquor Licensing Authority
Application types
Board of Equalization (BOE)
BOE appeals
Tax abatement petitions
Hearing processes in accordance with statutory
requirements
Coroner
Determines the cause and manner of death of
persons under any of the following
circumstances
Disease: Hazardous, contagious or a threat to the
health of the general public
External violence, an unexplained cause, or under
suspicious circumstances
No physician in attendance or physician
is unable to certify the cause of death
Thermal, chemical, or radiation injury
Criminal abortion
In a hospital less than 24 hours after
Dr. Robert Bux
admission
Coroner
(Continued)
Identifies deceased person
Notifies next of kin
Protects personal belongings
Releases belongings to next of kin
Pronounces death
Issues death certificate with cause and manner
of death
District Attorney
Enforces the criminal laws
Follows through with
charges after crime
investigation
Justice on behalf of the
people
John Newsome
District Attorney
(Continued)
Functions, responsibilities and programs
Criminal Prosecution
Investigations
Juvenile Prosecutions
Juvenile Diversion
Kids Against Crime
Economic Crime
Check Fraud Unit
Welfare Fraud
Child Abuse Diversion
Victim-Witness Services
Gang Intervention Video
Civil Litigation Unit
Public Speakers
Volunteer Program
Special Victims Unit
Neighborhood Justice
Center
Domestic Violence
Enhanced Response Team
Public Trustee
Appointed by the Governor
Liaison between the lender and the
homeowner during the foreclosure
process
Releases deeds of trust and
administers foreclosure proceedings
on properties
Funded by user fees that are set by
Colorado Revised Statutes
Holly Williams
Sheriff
Detention Bureau
Manages operation of county jail
Detention Security Division
Direct supervision of inmates
Detention Operations Division
Terry Maketa
Intake and release transportation,
classification, inmate security at courts, warrants
Detention Support Division
Gateways through the Rockies, monitor medical,
laundry, and food service contracts.
Sheriff
(Continued)
Law Enforcement Bureau
Emergency Services Division
Investigations Division
Patrol Division
Support Services Bureau
Administrative Services Division
Budget, training and communications
Professional Standards Division
Internal Affairs, Records, Information Technology and
Public Information Office
Surveyor
Represents the county in disputes
over county boundaries
Conducts surveys of county
boundaries
Examines all maps and plats
before recording with the County
Clerk and Recorder
Establishes disputed boundaries
when applied for or at the
appointment by the courts
Chris Brewer
Treasurer
Sandra Damron
Collects and distributes property taxes
in compliance with Colorado Statutes
Serves as banker and investment
officer for all county funds
Collects unpaid property taxes and
special assessments
Serves as agent for lien payment from
tax lien sale
to the Board of County Commissioners
County Attorney
Appointed by Board of County Commissioners
Advises and represents county elected officials
and agencies
Supervises
Employment Services Division
Inter-governmental Affairs Division
Department of
Health and Environment
Governed by a five member Board of Health
appointed by the Board of County
Commissioners
Monitors the community health status to
identify health problems
Enforces laws and regulations that protect
health and ensure safety
Links people to needed personal health services
and assures care when otherwise unavailable
Human Services
Senior Services
Enhances quality of life for older adults
Helps avoid premature institutionalization
Provides advocacy and collaboration for adult
protection and involvement in the community
Veteran Services
Provides personalized VA Benefit services to
veterans and their families
Human Services
(Continued)
Services for children and
families
Self-sufficiency, employment
and welfare diversion
Child abuse and neglect
protection – foster care,
kinship care, adoption
Family preservation and
reunification including
voluntary services
Substance abuse and mental
health treatment
Administers Federal and
State benefits programs
Internal Auditor
Position created by the Board of County
Commissioners in 2005
Assures taxpayers receive the best value
possible
Ensures that operations are effective,
efficient and adhere to established policies
Identifies risks and ensures that controls are
in place to minimize those risks
Development Services
Processes and monitors land use and related
applications for all areas of unincorporated El
Paso County
Coordinates the Planning Commission and the
Board of Adjustment
Employee Benefits and Medical
Services
Risk Management Services
Reduces avoidable and unavoidable risk to the county
Compensation
Employee salary administration
Employee classification plan administration
Employee Benefits
For eligible employees, retirees and dependents
Employee pharmacies and medical clinics
For eligible employees, retirees and dependents
All prescribed medications and over-the-counter medications
available for dispensing
Environmental Services
Forestry and Noxious Weeds Division
Enforces the Colorado Noxious Weed Act and Pest
Act through education
Controls Noxious Weeds and Mountain Pine Beetle
on county owned property
Natural Resources Division
Addresses threatened and
endangered species issues
Wetlands mitigation, permitting,
and banking
Development reviews
Environmental Services
(Continued)
Solid Waste Management Division
Household Chemical Waste Collection Facility
Public information and publications
Recycling directory
Environmental responsible education
Programs include
Black Forest Slash Mulch
Fire Mitigation
Yard Waste Collection
Drop & Swap
Tree Cycle
Facilities
Provides functional, clean, safe and secure facilities
Manages 118 buildings
Total of 2,028,011 square feet of space
Plans, designs and manages construction of new
facilities and interiors
Real estate purchases, sales, leases and management
Long range master plans for facilities and space
allocation
Utilities management and energy conservation
Financial and Budget Services
Provides accounting functions for the county
Monitors the expenditure and revenue transactions
Performs internal audits
Accounts for salaries, withholding and deductions
Analyzes and detects problems with expenditures or
revenue collections
Administers funding contracts
Oversees Economic and Community Development
Fleet
Services, maintains, purchases and rents
vehicles and equipment for 17 departments
Fleet size averages 1,000 vehicles or pieces of
equipment
Three garages
Welding/fabrication shop and a fully equipped
auto body shop
Two used oil recycling collection points
Information Technology
Foundation for all county offices and
departments to deliver cost effective services
and information
Provides services to the public, state, and
approximately 2,000 county employees
Of the three counties with populations over
500,000, El Paso County averaged 50 percent
lower IT budgets and 10 percent fewer technical
staff in 2005
IT help desk opened 18,775 tasks, projects and
trouble calls and closed 17,419 in 2005
Justice Services
Promotes coordinated and proactive criminal
justice planning in the 4th Judicial District
Advises and assists the Board of County
Commissioners on matters relating to criminal
justice
Provides courts, Department of Corrections, and
the State Board of Parole with correctional options
for offenders
Determines incarcerated defendants’ eligibility for
release from jail on Personal Recognizance Bonds
Parks & Leisure Services
Total property of 5,512 acres
86 miles of trail
Acquires, develops, maintains and preserves regional
parks, trails and open space
Manages resources and protects public lands
Provides natural and cultural history interpretation and
information through the Bear Creek and Fountain Creek
nature centers
Conducts annual County Fair
Maintains grounds for county-owned property
including the fairgrounds
Parks & Leisure Services
(Continued)
Provides a variety of sports facilities, pavilions and
other park facilities for public use including
Bear Creek
Black Forest
Ceresa
Clear Spring Ranch
Fountain Creek
Fox Run
Homestead Ranch
Paint Mines
Palmer Lake
Widefield
Colorado State University
Cooperative Extension
Established by Congress in 1914
Part of a land-grant university system
Extension is located in 57 counties
Frequently asked questions involve
Agriculture & Natural Resource Management
Family & Consumer Science - Nutrition, food preparation
and preservation and food safety
Horticulture - Commercial and residential landscapes
Nutrition - Food and nutrition education programs
Rural and urban 4-H education and youth development
Information available on a myriad of topics
Procurement and Contracts
Assists all county departments with the
procurement of materials, supplies and equipment
Annually purchases approximately $70,000,000
worth of commodities, services and equipment
Coordinates disposal of surplus items
Accredited by the National Institute of
Governmental Purchasing
Approval from BOCC needed for purchases
exceeding $25,000
Public Communications
Supports
Board of County Commissioners
Administrative Departments
Non-board Elected Officials
Media and community relations
News releases
Liaison to the Citizen Outreach Group
Public outreach programs and public meetings
Fulfills requests for information based upon
Colorado Open Records Act
Security/Parking
Protects county property and assets
Monitors and controls access to county
facilities
Insures safety and welfare of county
employees and the general public while on
county property
Provides security to the 4th Judicial District
of Colorado Courthouse
Oversees professional parking services at
county facilities
Transportation
Highway Division
Roadway group
959 miles of paved road and 1,034 miles of unpaved
road
Drainage group
Bridges (230) and drainage culverts (approximately
8,000)
Support group
Signs (approximately 45,000) and signals (80)
Capital Projects Management Division
Project Management Group
Stormwater Management Group
Transportation
(Continued)
Engineering Division
Engineering Design and Program Management
Group
Surveying Group
Traffic Engineering/Transportation Planning Group
The Administrative Division
Resource Management Group
Customer Service & Dispatch Group
Communications & Training Support Group
Employment Services Office