Received via email from Boulder County FIRM (Fairness in Road Maintenance):
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No money for roads but $1,500,000 for an easement? In Gilpin County??
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Twice in sworn documents filed in response to BoCo FIRM’s lawsuit, Boulder County has stated that it does not have adequate funds in its existing budget to finance a basic governmental responsibility, the maintenance of subdivision roads in unincorporated Boulder County.
- “The County denies that it has sufficient funds available in its Road and Bridge Fund for road construction and maintenance of all roads in the County.”
- “the County determined that it did not have adequate funds in its existing budget to finance the proposed rehabilitation.”
But they seemingly can find $1,500,000 for a conservation easement in Gilpin County.
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$1,500,000 that won’t be spent fixing our roads
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Tomorrow, Tuesday May 13th at a 2:30 pm public hearing (Commissioners Hearing Room, 3rd floor Boulder County Courthouse, 1325 Pearl Street), the Boulder County Parks and Open Space Department will ask the County Commissioners to approve spending $1,500,000 of your money to purchase a conservation easement that lies almost entirely in Gilpin County. Here are the facts regarding this proposed purchase that just don’t add up.
- Less than 400 acres of the proposed 3,394 acres are in Boulder County.
- The $1,500,000 will come from the County’s General Fund and not from the nearly $30,000,000 Parks and Open capital funds.
- A major railroad runs through the middle of this area of “high biodiversity significance”.
- Although Gilpin County “supports this project” they are contributing $0 towards the purchase.
- Why are we purchasing an easement for over $2,000 an acre when a similar property has been purchased for less than $1,000 an acre?
| You have two opportunities to let your voice be heard. You can express your opinion on this expenditure to the Commissioners directly at the public hearing at 2:30 pm, May 13th (Commissioners Hearing Room, 3rd floor Boulder County Courthouse, 1325 Pearl Street). Or you can email your thoughts to the Commissioners at commissioners@bouldercounty.org . Let your voice be heard. |
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I’m sure Boulder County FIRM would appreciate it if you stopped by their website and support their efforts.
