Boulder County treasurer says county invests $24 million locally, keeps strict legal limits

BOULDER, Colo. — Boulder County Treasurer Paul Wiseman briefed the board on the county’s investment practices during the Sept. 4 meeting, saying the county prioritizes safety and local investment while following statutory restrictions. Wiseman said the county does not buy or sell stocks by law and instead focuses on safety, liquidity and yield, with an added priority on local investment. “What we've done is we've put $24,000,000 in local banks, 2‑year $1,000,000 CDs maturing every month,” he said, and that at a peak the county had about $48,000,000 in local CDs and bonds. He said the county also holds roughly $50,000,000 in U.S. treasuries, agencies and federal‑backed bonds and that most funds are kept in local government investment pools for liquidity. Wiseman cited the Public Deposit Protection Act (PDPA), which requires banks holding county deposits to collateralize funds, and said those restrictions limit where the treasurer can place county funds. “I add local before yield,” Wiseman said, explaining that placing deposits in local banks supports local lending and economic activity. He said the county avoids commercial paper (corporate debt) and has not lost money on investments, and that statutory restrictions and case law constrain the treasurer’s options. Discussion vs. decision: This was an informational presentation and explanation of current practice; no legislative action or change in investment policy was announced Sept. 4. Why this matters: County investment practices affect liquidity for tax collection and disbursement cycles and can influence local banking capacity; statutory protections also limit options for higher yield investments. What’s next: The treasurer said he is available to answer questions and that an annual investment report is presented to the board at the reorganizational meeting; commissioners had no additional questions Sept. 4.