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Public commenter urges more transparency on county indebtedness and PSST reallocation
Summary
A resident urged the BOCC to ensure that indebtedness and lease-based financing are presented to voters, criticized commissioners' resolution-based reallocation of PSST funds, and asked for greater public disclosure.
Local resident Ron Henderson told the board he believes Montrose County, as a statutory county, should submit certain indebtedness questions to voters rather than relying on lease payments and commission resolutions to redirect funds. Henderson said voters were told PSST (severance-tax) funds would address sheriff equipment and staffing needs, and that subsequent reallocations by resolution bypassed the electorate.
Henderson said some lease-based financing arrangements can leave a lender holding ownership of improvements and the county in a lease position, which he said circumvents voter approval. He urged the board to make such decisions more public and review past reallocations; commissioners responded that they are careful about not making unnoted decisions in private meetings and that notices and minutes are available. No formal legal or financial action was taken at the work session.
