Montezuma County and Town of Dolores continue talks over sheriff services contract; commissioners set Sept. 15 cutoff for contract finalization

Montezuma County officials told the Board of County Commissioners on Aug. 26 that negotiations over a proposed contract for sheriff services to the Town of Dolores remain ongoing and that the county needs a final agreement by Sept. 15 to meet its budget schedule.

County Administrator Anderson said the town was presented with an updated contract at about 8:30 p.m. the previous night and that the county’s target remains a Sept. 15 signature so staff can include the resulting costs in the county’s proposed budget, which the administrator said must be presented by Oct. 15 "by statute." Anderson told the board the town had asked to push the deadline to Oct. 13; she recommended holding Sept. 15 as the cutoff.

During the attorney’s report the county attorney said the proposed contract had been presented in a new format to Dolores and that the county needed to review changes made by the town before deciding whether further negotiation was necessary. The attorney noted there is concurrent authority between the sheriff and the board regarding law‑enforcement services, and recommended possible executive‑session discussion because some matters could involve privileged legal advice.

Commissioners questioned whether the county could take a firmer position and present nonnegotiable contract terms, noting the county’s role as the fiscal authority and that if no contract is signed those positions are not funded. The attorney cautioned that some town enforcement activities—such as enforcing town ordinances—may fall outside the sheriff’s statutory duties and therefore can be subject to separate negotiation.

County Administrator Anderson said the county had set a Sept. 15 deadline previously in a similar situation and urged that date remain. "Leave it in there. September 15. Good with that," a commissioner said during the meeting.

Why it matters: A signed agreement will determine whether and how county sheriff resources are assigned to the Town of Dolores, affect the sheriff’s staffing and hours, and must be reflected in the county budget cycle. Delays risk leaving positions or hours unfunded and could require the county to adjust budget assumptions.

Next steps: County staff plan to review the town’s revisions, follow up with the sheriff’s office and, if the board desires, hold additional privileged discussion in executive session to finalize negotiation strategy before the Sept. 15 target.