LETTER TO RESIDENTS
BRET WATERS County Administrator
NIKKI SIMMONS Chief Financial Officer
Residents of El Paso County,
We remain committed to our approach serving El Paso County. As our Strategic Plan outlines, we are dedicated to being transparent and citizen-focused stewards of taxpayer dollars. El Paso County is your County, and we strive to earn and maintain your respect and trust. This report is a testament to our commitment to transparency and accountability. All figures presented in this report were audited by an independent firm, RubinBrown, and certified by your Board of County Commissioners. In 2023, El Paso County achieved significant milestones in our focus areas, particularly in critical infrastructure and roads. As our County continues to grow, we are dedicated to maintaining our infrastructure. Our aim is to provide a safe and reliable transportation network for our residents and to remain an attractive destination for visitors. We worked in close collaboration to identify and execute targeted projects and programs within the County, leading to notable improvements in our road, stormwater, and parks infrastructure.
In 2023, El Paso County focused heavily on human capital and service quality. All County departments and offices continue to deliver high-quality essential public services. To meet our strategic plan of improving service quality to our residents, we seek to maintain a quality workforce to meet that goal. We have intentionally invested in attracting and retaining exceptional employees who serve our citizens.
We remain committed to adhering to the TABOR spending limits. As we look to refund the 2023 excess, we prioritize the interests of the citizens of El Paso County. We run one of the most efficient counties in the State and we will continue to use your tax dollars conservatively moving forward.
Thank you for allowing us to serve this great County. We look forward to collaborating as we move forward!
EL PASO COUNTY, CO
Nestled below Pikes Peak is El Paso CountyAmerica's destination. The natural physical beauty of the area, situated at the base of Pikes Peak and with an uninterrupted view of the Front Range, inspired Katharine Lee Bates to write the poem "America the Beautiful" after her visit here. With a mild climate, nearly 300 days of blue skies, sunshine, and low humidity levels, El Paso County is a place to live, work, and play!
El Paso County has eight municipalities, each contributing to the community's geographic, economic, and social diversity. The county lies in east-central Colorado and encompasses more than 2,158 square miles - slightly more than twice the land area of Rhode Island. The altitude ranges from about 5,095 feet (1,569 m) on the southern border at Black Squirrel Creek to 14,110 feet (4,301 m) on the summit of Pikes Peak, near the western boundary. The county seat is located in Colorado Springs.
With a population of over 750,000, El Paso County offers residents a thriving downtown, family-friendly suburbs, and vast rural expanses. Residents enjoy historic charm, world-class restaurants and accommodations, a growing cultural scene, and plenty of shopping options.
El Paso County is essential to our nation. We are home to the US Space Command and five military installations from the prestigious US Air Force Academy to Fort Carson. Each supports a crucial strategic mission for our nation's defense. Nearly 100,000 Veterans also call El Paso County home.
2023 POPULAR ANNUAL FINANCIAL REPORT
Within it all is the El Paso County government. Our county government is the gold standard of efficiency, transparency, and respect for its residents. Various elected officials and senior county leadership lead the county. They collaborate with regional partners to solve complex problems and protect our most vulnerable.
CITIZENS
ELECTED OFFICIALS
OFFICE OF THE ASSESSOR
OFFICE OF THE SHERIFF
EL PASO COUNTY PUBLIC HEALTH
EL PASO & TELLER COUNTIES WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT CONSORTIUM
OFFICE OF THE CLERK & RECORDER
OFFICE OF THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY
OFFICE OF THE TREASURER & PUBLIC TRUSTEE
BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
EL PASO COUNTY ATTORNEY
DEPUTY COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
FACILITES & STRATEGIC INFRASTRUCTURE MANAGEMENT
JUSTICE SERVICES
PARKS & COMMUNITY SERVICES
PIKES PEAK REGIONAL OFFICE OF EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT
PIKES PEAK WORKFORCE CENTER
OFFICE OF THE CORONER OFFICE OF THE SURVEYOR
EL PASO COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR
COMMUNICATIONS
DIGITAL, STRATEGY, & TECHNOLOGY
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
FINANCIAL SERVICES
HUMAN RESOURCES
HUMAN SERVICES
GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS
PLANNING & COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT
PUBLIC WORKS
2023
EL PASO COUNTY
Commissioners
The Board of County Commissioners (BoCC), an administrative and policy-making body, has only such powers and authority as are granted by the General Assembly of the Colorado State Legislature. The County is not an independent governmental entity existing by reason of any sovereign authority. As a political subdivision, the county and its board of commissioners possess only such implied powers as are necessary to carry out expressed powers (Colorado Constitution, Article XIV, Section 6).
Colorado counties with a population of 70,000 or more may have a three or five-member board of commissioners. In 1976 the voters of El Paso County chose to have a board of five commissioners, each elected to represent a district. The districts are equal in population, and the boundaries are established by the board every two years.
The Board of County Commissioners holds Public Hearings and Meetings on a regular basis. All such meetings are subject to state open meeting laws, the Colorado Sunshine Act of 1972, and the Colorado Open Records Act. The Commissioners update their Rules, Procedure, and Ethics Standards annually.
Top: Carrie Geitner - District 2, Cami Bremer - District 5
Bottom: Stan VanderWerf - District 3, Holly Williams - District 1, Longinos Gonzalez, Jr. - District 4
EL PASO COUNTY
El Paso County is governed by five County Commissioners representing the five geographic commissioner districts that are equal in population. El Paso County Commissioners are elected by the citizens within their respective districts and serve staggered four-year terms. Commissioners are term-limited, serving a maximum of two consecutive four-year terms. The Board of County Commissioners elects officers and assigns community liaison responsibilities annually. In addition, Commissioner district boundaries are revised every two years to ensure equal citizen representation for all five districts.
STATE OF COLORADO
VISION
El Paso County will be a trusted regional leader known for excellence in county service delivery.
PURPOSE
We provide essential public services to the Pikes Peak Region in support of our residents, businesses, and communities, enhancing the freedom for all to thrive.
EL PASO COUNTY, COLORADO
EL PASO COUNTY, COLORADO
2023
COUNTY METRICS
POPULATION
23%11%29%23%14% 0-1718-2425-4445-6465+
2023 Forecasts from the Colorado Demography Office
MEDIAN HOUSEHOLD INCOME
United States Census Bureau, American Community Survey 1-Year 2022 Estimates
$82,389
PERCENT IN POVERTY
EDUCATIONAL ATTAINMENT AFTER AGE 25
ROADS & TRANSPORTATION
1,162 Miles of Paved Road
1,042 Miles of Gravel/Natural Surface Road
2,204 Miles of Road
284 County Maintained Bridges
PARKS & RECREATION
7,979 Acres of Park Land/Open Space
2,496 Acres of Conservation Easements
145 Miles of Trails
2 Nature Centers and 1 Fair & Events Center
23,790 Volunteer Hours
VETERANS SERVICES
$1.1 B Benefits Paid by the VA in 2023
10% Increase in El Paso County VA Claims
10% Increase in Veteran Representation
HUMAN SERVICES
17,747 Reports of Child Abuse/Neglect
3,549 Reports to Adult Protective Services
EL PASO COUNTY JAIL
1,299 Daily Population
32 Days Jail Stay, on Average
$134.03/Day per Inmate
17.39 % Recidivism Rate (January - December 2023)
PLANNING & DEVELOPMENT
511 Major Development Applications
5,975 Minor Development Applications
968 Single-Family Dwelling Applications
1,320 Code Enforcement Cases
FACILITY MAINTENANCE
119 Buildings Maintained Over 3 Million Square Feet
CLERK & RECORDER
726,568 Motor Vehicle Transactions
59,725 Driver’s Licenses Issued
196,391 Election Ballots Cast - November 2023
106,202 Recorded Documents
7,221 Marriage License/Civil Unions Applications
DISTRICT ATTORNEY
23,355 Total Cases Handled
78 Volunteers
10,468 Volunteer Hours
$6.7M Restitution for Victims
$1.2M Victim Compensation
GENERAL FUND SUMMARY
The Statement of Revenue and Expenditures provides an account of revenue and expenditures for the County’s general fund operations. The General Fund is the County’s primary operating fund, accounting for all financial resources of the general government, except those required to be accounted for in other funds. Revenues represent dollars received and expenditures can be thought of as the costs of providing services to citizens.
Total revenues increased 5.0% in the amount of $13.9 million from 2021 to 2023. Property taxes played a significant role in this increase with an increase of $14.6 million or 25%. Property taxes remain strong as property values continue to rise.
Total expenditures increased 5.0% in the amount of $12.3 million from 2021 to 2023. Capital outlay saw the largest increase from 2021 to 2023 in the amount of $6 million or 48.1%. The County continued to incur American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) expenditures in addition to fleet and GASB96 implement expenditures.
2023 POPULAR ANNUAL FINANCIAL REPORT
SUMMARY STATEMENT
This table summarizes the data found in the El Paso County Annual Comprehensive Financial Report, Statement of Revenues, Expenditures, and Changes in fund balances for the General Fund.
*Sales tax is net of each year's TABOR limitation: $8,252,409 for 2023, $31,551,234 for 2022, and $30,674,596 for 2021.
This table is presented on non-GAAP basis. A more detailed GAAP basis financial detail can be found in the El Paso County Annual Comprehensive Financial Report in its entirety, available online at: https://admin.elpasoco.com/financialservices/budget-finance/annual-comprehensive-financial-reports/
In November 1992, the people of the State of Colorado passed an amendment to the State’s Constitution known as the Taxpayer’s Bill of Rights (TABOR). TABOR’s intended purpose was to reasonably restrain most of the growth of government by imposing spending and revenue limits on state and local governments. The TABOR calculation has two parts, determining a TABOR reserve amount and calculating if there is an excess of the TABOR revenue limits. In 2023, El Paso County’s Tabor reserve amount was $10,244,317 and the County exceeded its fiscal year spending limit by $8,252,409. The overage is held in reserve for a possible TABOR refund.
2023 POPULAR ANNUAL FINANCIAL REPORT
REVENUES
*2023 Sales Tax is net of $8,252,409 TABOR limitation.
This chart summarizes the data found in the El Paso County Annual Comprehensive Financial Report, Statement of Revenues, Expenditures, and Changes in Fund Balances for the General Fund.
ADDITIONAL REVENUE SOURCES
Charges for Services – These are fees charged to County customers. The largest collector of this type of revenue is the County Clerk for the recording of documents, the issuance of motor vehicle registrations/titles, (for which the State of Colorado pays the County a set rate), in addition to others. The County Treasurer also collects a portion of this revenue through fees charged to other governments for the collection and subsequent distribution of their property taxes.
ADDITIONAL REVENUE SOURCES
Intergovernmental – These are funds received from other governments for financing the day-to-day costs of a specific program.
Contributions – Donations and contributions to the County for special projects and Sheriff Office programs.
Charges for Services – These are fees charged to County customers. The largest collector of this type of revenue is the County Clerk for the recording of documents, the issuance of motor vehicle registrations/titles, (for which the State of Colorado pays the County a set rate), in addition to others. The County Treasurer also collects a portion of this revenue through fees charged to other governments for the collection and subsequent distribution of their property taxes.
Licenses and Permits – Revenues collected for the issuance of various licenses and permits such as Cable TV franchise fees, etc.
Intergovernmental – These are funds received from other governments for financing the day-to-day costs of a specific program.
Legal Settlements - This is a new category in 2023. In 2020 - 2021, settlements were reached nationwide with the nation’s largest drug distribution companies to resolve claims by state and local governments that these companies contributed to the opioid epidemic. In 2023, El Paso County received funds.
Contributions – Donations and contributions to the County for special projects and Sheriff Office programs.
Licenses and Permits – Revenues collected for the issuance of various licenses and permits such as Cable TV franchise fees, etc.
REVENUE DETAIL
Legal Settlements - This is a new category in 2023. In 2020 - 2021, settlements were reached nationwide with the nations largest drug distribution companies to resolve claims by state and local governments that these companies contributed to the opioid epidemic. In 2023, El Paso County received funds.
Sales tax net of Tabor comprised the largest portion of revenue for 2023 at 39%. The sales tax collections remained high as prices continued to rise in 2023 due to economic conditions. Property taxes were the second largest portion at 25%. Property taxes remain strong as property values continued to rise in El Paso County.
2023 POPULAR ANNUAL FINANCIAL REPORT
EXPENDITURES
This chart summarizes the data found in the El Paso County Annual Comprehensive Financial Report, Statement of Revenues, Expenditures, and Changes in Fund Balances for the General Fund.
SPECIFIC EXPENDITURE SOURCES
Public Safety – Expenditures for the Sheriff’s department administration, patrol, investigations and detentions, and the Coroner’s office.
General Government – Expenditures incurred by administrative departments such as the Board of County Commissioners, Elections, Assessor, Treasurer, Finance, County Attorney, Information Technology, Facilities, etc.
Health and Welfare – Expenditures for the Pikes Peak Workforce Center and Environmental Services.
Capital Outlay – Expenditures used to acquire or upgrade capital assets. Capital assets include property, buildings, equipment and infrastructure with a cost of $5,000 or more and a useful life of more than one year.
Culture and Recreation – Expenditures used for the maintenance and administrative functions of the County’s open space, parks, fairground facilities and the County Fair.
EXPENDITURE DETAIL
Public Safety comprised the largest portion of expenditures for 2023 at 52% with General Government following at 31%. El Paso County put a heavy focus in 2023 investing in employees. The year began with a 2.5% cost of living increase for every employee along with a 2% salary allocation for pay-for performance adjustments.
2024 BUDGET DETAIL
TOTAL UNRESTRICTED GENERAL FUND
The 2024 El Paso County budget is available on the El Paso County website: https://admin.elpasoco.com/financial-services/budget-finance/county-budget/
AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN ACT (ARPA)
El Paso County received $139,929,837 from the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) to aid in the recovery of our region from the COVID-19 pandemic. The County is taking a thoughtful approach to ensure the funding is allocated to areas that are crucial to the recovery and prosperity of our community. Our County leaders are using this opportunity to continue their outstanding work of supporting our community by boosting our local economy, funding essential services, enhancing infrastructure throughout the county and more. Detailed reporting on ARPA funding can be found on our website at : https://admin.elpasoco.com/arpa/
ARPA FUNDING DETAIL
$6,000,000
$7,250,000
$8,994,635
2023 POPULAR ANNUAL FINANCIAL REPORT
ARPA FUNDING SPENT TO DATE
As of Q1 - 2024, El Paso County has made significant progress in utilizing the funds allocated from the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA). The majority of the budget has been effectively used on several key projects. Most of the funds allocated to staffing have been spent, along with substantial amounts for water infrastructure and economic recovery & workforce development. Public health initiatives have also seen significant spending. Public safety related to COVID-19 response is well-funded, with most of the allocated budget utilized. Community impact and COVID medical & leave have fully spent their budgets. Infrastructure projects including stormwater and broadband are exiting the design phase and entering construction. Road infrastructure projects are in process and expected to continue over the next couple of years. This thoughtful allocation and spending plan highlight a targeted approach to addressing various critical needs across the county. REHIRING PUBLIC SECTOR STAFF
Zero funds have been spent on Road Infrastructure - Direct (Flexibility) and Contingency categories and are therefore not included as funds spent in the chart below.
$1,626,652
$2,424,045.70
$8,994,635
$8,968,686.56
$10,470,915
$11,035,612.18
$16,288,248
$23,551.074
$20,934,913
