Jefferson County outlines $1.79 million in one-time uses for retained revenue, including public-safety and public-health purchases

Jefferson County staff presented commissioners on Aug. 5 with a consolidated list of proposed one-time uses of retained 2024 revenue totaling $1,793,523 and asked for direction to bring the items forward as a supplemental budget request.

Mike Smith of Strategy, Innovation and Finance described the items as one-time investments that became possible after voters approved ballot measure 1 in 2024 and after internal review by managing teams and support services. Smith and colleagues summarized the package as follows:

- Sheriff's Office: $285,000 for two hazmat response vehicles; $120,000 for upfront costs of a canine drug-detection unit for the detention center; $50,000 for a vehicle lift to maintain multi-use public-safety vehicles. - Jefferson County Public Health: $129,273 to maintain public-health clinic services that screen and treat sexually transmitted infections including syphilis; $153,250 in capital costs to restart offering vasectomy services. - Human Services: $150,000 for required ADA improvements at Head Start facilities; $15,000 to add lighting at facilities for nighttime safety. - Operations: $50,000 to replace fixed bollards with removable ones to allow emergency crews easier access where needed (as identified by the Golden Fire Marshal). - Development & Transportation: $40,000 as a county capital match to leverage a Colorado Water Conservation Board grant supporting a Wildfire Ready Action Plan (RAP) for the Bear Creek watershed; Jefferson Conservation District to be fiscal agent for that grant.

Smith also acknowledged two additional sheriff items (milestone security camera and storage, and command-bus upgrades) that were part of the overall one-time list and said the total figure includes items presented previously. Altogether, Smith said, the package totaled $1,793,523. He asked commissioners for direction to bring the package forward as a budget supplemental at a future hearing; commissioners indicated unanimous support to proceed.

Commissioners and staff also discussed facility needs highlighted in a recent jail tour and the wildfire mitigation importance of the Bear Creek RAP match. Staff said ongoing costs, where applicable, would be covered by future charges for services or operational budgets, while the package itself is one-time capital and startup funding from retained revenue.