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Pueblo County asks state leaders to limit unfunded mandates, cites statute protecting counties
Summary
The Pueblo County Board of County Commissioners unanimously approved a letter to Gov. Jared Polis and legislative leaders urging reconsideration of unfunded state mandates and citing Colorado Revised Statute 29‑1‑304.5.
Pueblo County on Aug. 12 approved a letter urging Colorado’s governor and legislative leaders to reconsider unfunded state mandates that county officials say shift costs to local governments without providing funding.
The board authorized a letter addressed to Governor Jared Polis, Colorado Senate President and the Speaker of the Colorado House asking for an “open dialogue on solutions” and citing Colorado Revised Statute 29‑1‑304.5, which the county interprets to require the state to provide funding when it increases levels of service by law.
County Manager Ben Ingenacio read the text of the letter aloud during the meeting. The letter states that “these unfunded mandates issued without the financial support required to implement them place an unsustainable burden on local governments and the citizens we serve.” It asks the governor to “exercise his veto power over unfunded mandates” and requests coordination on funding mechanisms or statutory revisions.
The letter lists specific laws and policy areas the county estimates carry substantial uncompensated costs: redirected HUTF highway funding, SB 23‑166 and SB 24‑05 on wildland‑urban interface code, HB 21‑1286 on energy benchmarking and building performance standards, HB 21‑1236 on Colorado OIT compliance, SB 22‑30 on collective bargaining, HB 21‑1110 on digital accessibility, and SB 22‑17 on law enforcement body‑worn cameras. The reading framed these as examples, not an exhaustive list.
Commissioners described the letter as nonpartisan and focused on fiscal reality. One commissioner said the county is “almost at a point of exhaustion” with budget pressures caused when state requirements are not accompanied by funding. Another noted that while some mandates reflect sound policy, implementation requires resources the county does not have.
The board voted by voice to approve the letter; commissioners indicated aye and the motion passed. The county said it will transmit the letter to the governor and legislative leaders and offered to coordinate meetings to discuss funding and compliance pathways.
