Clear Creek County adopts 2025 budget, raises several fees; commissioners approve multiple intergovernmental agreements and code updates

Clear Creek County commissioners on Dec. 10 adopted the county’s 2025 budget, approved multiple fee schedule updates and passed intergovernmental agreements affecting law enforcement and fire governance.

Key outcomes at a glance

- 2025 budget adopted: Commissioners approved Resolution 24‑71 adopting the county budget for calendar year 2025. County officials said the adopted budget includes a 3% cost‑of‑living increase for employees, funds a compensation analysis in several program areas and reduces headcount by eight full‑time equivalent positions across departments as part of deficit‑reduction steps. County Manager Brian Bosshard told the board the proposed compensation changes initially produced about a $4.0 million general‑fund shortfall; the board directed staff to find roughly $2.0 million in reductions and the adopted budget narrowed the deficit substantially during negotiations.

- Mill levies and tax resolutions: Commissioners approved a separate resolution (24‑88) levying general property taxes for 2024, reflecting the county’s adopted mill levies. Officials said general property tax revenues remain the county’s largest single revenue source and that projected property tax receipts are structurally lower than in earlier years.

- County hours and operations: The board approved a resolution setting county office days and hours of operation. After discussion county offices will move to a 7:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. schedule as the organization transitions many non‑public‑safety functions to a four‑day, eight‑hour workweek in 2025.

- Emergency Services General Improvement District (ESGID): The board, sitting as ESGID directors, approved the ESGID budget and levied property taxes for the district (resolutions 24‑04 and 24‑05). Commissioners were briefed that ESGID revenues principally fund the Clear Creek Fire Authority contract for emergency response.

- Housing Authority budget: The board approved the Clear Creek County Housing Authority 2025 budget (Resolution 24‑01). County staff said the authority’s budget primarily reflects minimal administrative activity and a small general‑fund transfer.

- Fees and permits: Commissioners approved several fee schedule updates intended to increase cost recovery for specific county services: • Short‑term rental (STR) licensing: Resolution 24‑92 raises licensing fees — standard STR licenses from $500 to $1,000 and primary‑resident licenses from $250 to $500 — and adds an administrative fee and an occupancy surcharge for units hosting more than four occupants. Staff said the changes aim to better cover enforcement and permitting costs and suggested a future nexus study to refine fee‑setting. The board adopted the increases as presented. • Building department fees: Resolution 24‑87 consolidates and adjusts building permit fees into a multiplier‑based structure tied to permit valuation and eliminates some separate plan‑review fees. • Ambulance fees: Resolution 24‑95 updates the Clear Creek County ambulance fee schedule to follow state guidance tied to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) reimbursement benchmarks. Staff said ambulance collections have increased in 2024 after a prior fee update but that current recoveries remain roughly one‑third of billed charges. • Transfer station fees: Resolution 24‑85 revises transfer station pricing to recover increased operating costs, primarily labor. The board approved higher prices and set an effective date of Feb. 2, 2025, to allow staff time for public notice and point‑of‑sale changes. Transfer station leadership said transaction volume has fallen since the operation reduced hours in recent years and cautioned that price increases may change customer behavior.

- Georgetown IGA for short‑term law enforcement: Commissioners approved an intergovernmental agreement for the Clear Creek County Sheriff’s Office to provide short‑term basic law‑enforcement services to the Town of Georgetown through May 1, 2025. The sheriff told the board the office had already been responding to 911 calls there under mutual aid; the approved IGA formalizes reimbursement and coverage while Georgetown recruits new police staffing.

- Roadway manual revised: The board approved Resolution 24‑35 to update the county Roadway Design and Construction Manual. Changes include simplification of driveway grade categories (proposing up to 12% grade on straight sections and 8% on curves), clarified requirements for driveway connections to county roads (a reduced maximum grade for the first 25 feet where driveways meet county roads), clarified bridge design references and a staff‑driven deviation and appeal process so the county engineer can grant limited, documented variances. Commissioners asked staff to continue work on implementation details and to consider public guidance for maintenance on non‑maintained roads.

- Clear Creek Fire Authority intergovernmental agreement: The board approved an amended intergovernmental agreement for the Clear Creek Fire Authority. The updated agreement adds three seats intended to create additional representation for unincorporated areas; those seats will be nominated by member jurisdictions and confirmed by the fire authority board. County leaders characterized the amended agreement as a negotiated, multi‑party update intended to preserve regional fire governance while clarifying representation.

Other routine business

- Consent items: Staff reported three marijuana licenses (Sofa King Medicinal and associated adult‑use/medical manufacturing licenses) were renewed on the consent agenda. The board approved consent items including warrants, holiday schedule, meeting minutes and several agreements.

Votes at a glance (formal actions recorded Dec. 10)

- Resolution 24‑86 — In appreciation of Greg Markle (honorary resolution): approved (motion passed unanimously). - Resolution 24‑71 — Adopt 2025 county budget: approved (motion passed unanimously). - Resolution 24‑88 — Levy general property taxes for 2024 (mill levy adoption): approved (motion passed unanimously). - Resolution 24‑94 — Set county days/hours of operation (adopt hours 7:30–4:00): approved (motion passed unanimously). - Resolution 24‑04 — Adopt ESGID budget (Emergency Services GID): approved (motion passed unanimously). - Resolution 24‑05 — Levy property taxes for ESGID: approved (motion passed unanimously). - Resolution 24‑01 — Adopt Clear Creek County Housing Authority budget: approved (motion passed unanimously). - Resolution 24‑92 — STR fee schedule increases: approved (motion passed unanimously). - Resolution 24‑87 — Building department consolidated fee schedule: approved (motion passed unanimously). - Resolution 24‑95 — Ambulance fee schedule revision: approved (motion passed unanimously). - Resolution 24‑85 — Transfer station fee schedule (effective Feb. 2, 2025): approved (motion passed unanimously). - Resolution 24‑35 — Revise Roadway Design & Construction Manual: approved (motion passed unanimously). - Intergovernmental agreement: Town of Georgetown — short‑term law enforcement services (through May 1, 2025): approved (motion passed unanimously). - Clear Creek Fire Authority amended IGA: approved (motion passed unanimously). - Consent items including three marijuana license renewals: approved (motion passed unanimously).

What commissioners and staff said about the budget and fees

County Manager Brian Bosshard and Finance Director Rachel Harlow Schock summarized the budget tradeoffs: staff presented a proposed compensation plan that initially created about a $4.0 million general‑fund gap; the board asked staff to find at least $2.0 million in reductions, and the adopted package includes eight eliminated FTEs, a 3% COLA, changes to public‑safety pension participation and proposed fee increases to help close the deficit. Schock and Bosshard advised the board that property tax receipts remain the dominant revenue source (they cited roughly $9.3 million in projected property tax revenue and about $2.7 million in sales tax revenue) and urged continued attention to long‑term revenue stability and capital planning.

Transfer station and other operational notes

Transfer station leadership recommended the Feb. 2 effective date to allow staff time to reprogram registers, post notice and resume a four‑day schedule. County staff said they will monitor customer behavior and return with adjustments if volume falls off the levels needed to meet operating costs.

What the board asked staff to do next

Commissioners asked staff to return next year with further analyses and studies: a staffing and facilities assessment, a more formal capital plan and potential cost‑benefit studies for services (including a recommended nexus study for STR fees). Several commissioners also urged a deeper review of the county’s IT and jail operations and encouraged continued engagement with county partners on regional fire governance.

Ending: County staff said they will publish the adopted budget documents and updated fee schedules; the county manager and finance director said they will continue to bring follow‑up analyses on fees, service levels and capital needs to the board in 2025.