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Adams County board initiates process to consider County Revitalization Authority
Summary
The board approved a resolution to begin the statutory process for a County Revitalization Authority, directing staff to notify municipalities, commission a study, and plan public hearings; presenters said the authority could use tax increment financing but cannot levy new taxes.
The Adams County Board of County Commissioners voted unanimously on Feb. 10 to initiate the statutory process to consider forming a County Revitalization Authority aimed at reinvesting in underserved unincorporated parts of the county.
Jenny Hall, director of community and economic development, told commissioners the resolution "formally acknowledges that there exists in this county the need for a county revitalization authority" and directs staff to begin the required notices and municipal engagement under the state law that created the tool. Deputy Director Bill Aiken said the action taken by the board is an initiation phase: staff will notify municipalities and property owners, commission a study, conduct public outreach and, if the board later approves a plan, the authority could implement that plan over a 30-year period.
Aiken described the authority’s powers and limits: it "will be able to enter into contracts, create their own budget, borrow money for redevelopment purposes, to acquire land and or dispose of land," and to develop infrastructure and utilities for revitalization. He added that the authorities "do not have the power to create additional taxes," and that they would generally use tax increment financing to capture revenue from improvements rather than imposing a new mill levy.
Commissioners expressed support. Commissioner Henson, who said she served on a city council in a border area of the county, praised the tool as a way to coordinate revitalization in unincorporated areas that otherwise fall between jurisdictions. Commissioner Baca, who helped lead the legislation at the state level, said the tool focuses on opportunities rather than urban renewal’s blight criteria and highlighted potential regional projects linked to I-70 REAP.
Hall and Aiken said next steps include statutorily required public hearings with municipal cooperation, planning commission review to align any plan with comprehensive plans, impact reports for affected municipalities and development of a public plan before any authority could be created. The board approved the initiation resolution unanimously.
The resolution begins a multi-step, public process; it does not by itself create an authority or authorize projects or spending.
