Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutReport - Mail Packet - 5/31/2016 - Memorandum From Darin Atteberry Re: Larimer County Report To The Community & Budget BriefA HIGH-LEVEL OVERVIEW OF COUNTY SERVICES, GOALS AND PERFORMANCE 2014-15 © PHOTO COURTESY OF CHARLIE JOHNSON www.larimer.org LETTER FROM THE COMMISSIONERS LETTER FROM THE COUNTY MANAGER Welcome to our second annual Community Report! One of our most important respon- sibilities as Commissioners is ensuring the most efficient use of the tax revenue the County receives through property and voter- approved sales taxes. In these pages you’ll learn about the value you receive for your tax dollars through various performance measures and explanations of how we’re implementing efficiencies in the services we provide. Our job is to make sure you get the best value and results. We believe you deserve this information and hope it is use- ful. Contact us at bocc@larimer.org or visit us online at larimer.org/bcc. ELECTED OFFICIALS Steve Miller Assessor Angela Myers Clerk & Recorder James A. Wilkerson IV M.D. Coroner Cliff Riedel District Attorney Justin Smith Sheriff Chad Washburn Surveyor Irene Josey Treasurer (from left) Lew Gaiter III, District I; Steve Johnson, District II; Tom Donnelly, District III Larimer County strives to provide excellent ser- vice to the 324,000 plus residents of the County. Whether you live in a city, town or unincorporated area, the County contributes to your quality of life by providing a wide variety of services we’ve categorized into five major areas. In this report you’ll find a quick summary of those major areas, learn what we do and find some of the performance outcomes of that work. We hope the report will spark your interest and feedback to help us serve you better. Please let me know what you think at lhoffmann@larimer.org. Linda Hoffmann County Manager (970) 498-7004 (direct) of the total you pay in property taxes, the rest goes to schools, cities, and COMMUNITY RESOURCES, INFRASTRUCTURE & PLANNING SERVICES QUALITY INFRASTRUCTURE, CONSCIENTIOUS PLANNING RETHINKING THE FINANCIALS OF RECYCLING While the amount that Larimer County residents recycle has steadily increased, the revenue the County receives from selling recycled materials has declined significantly. The market for recycled materials like cardboard, plastic, newspaper and metal quickly dried up as the global economy slowed. Even with a rebounding economy, the County will likely have to re- evaluate landfill and recycling fees. THE RANCH: MORE THAN HOCKEY & HORSES! The Ranch hosted the start of Stage 6 of the 2013 and 2015 USA Pro Challenge, a 7-day cycling stage race and one of Colorado’s premier international events. As a co- ordinating member of the NoCo partnership, the Ranch welcomes 130 of the finest athletes in the world and the opportunity to showcase northern Colorado to the world. Number sold at The Ranch since the doors opened in 2003. If you lined them up end to end, they would stretch all the way from The Ranch complex to Denver! SERVICES • Building Inspections • Community Planning and Development • County Parks and Trails • Engineering • Landfill and Solid Waste Management • Open Spaces • Road and Bridge Maintenance and Repair • Rural Lands • The Ranch Home building has re- bounded in the unincor- porated areas of Larimer County. In the first quarter of 2015, the County issued more building permits than in any first quarter in the last 10 years. HOW MUCH WE RECYCLE REVENUE FROM RECYCLING RECYCLING COST TO COUNTY 2011 2014 2011 2014 2011 2014 36K TONS 38K TONS $246K $1.1M $779K $248K 318,348 HOT DOGS The markets will not purchase materials with high contamination rates, which are caused by items such as greasy pizza boxes, unrinsed bottles, and including materials not suitable for recycling. What can you recycle? larimer.org/ solidwaste/recycling.htm KEEP IT CLEAN PUBLIC RECORDS AND INFORMATION SERVICES STRATEGIC LEADERSHIP, ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES OPEN DATA, TRANSPARENT PROCESSES CONFIDENCE IN LARIMER COUNTY GOVERNMENT VEHICLE TITLES & LICENSING CIVIL UNIONS & MARRIAGE LICENSES PROPERTY Larimer County began APPRAISALS issuing Civil Union licenses on May 1, 2013, and issued 143 that year. The County began issuing same- sex marriage licenses on October 6, 2014. Property in Larimer County is assessed every two years based on changes in the real estate market, and new valuations were released in 2015. While values didn’t change much during the 2013 assessment, this time property values increased noticeably for payments in 2016. EXCELLENCE IN FINANCIAL REPORTING NEW COUNTY BUILDING Any county resident can take the Larimer County 101 program to learn about county services and their benefits. Participants are asked to rate their level of confidence in Larimer County government at the beginning and end of the LC 101 series of classes. On average, confidence levels increase by .90 points. The Vehicle Licensing Division of the Clerk and Recorder’s office handles everything from titling motor vehicles, manufactured homes and ATVs, to issuing Persons With Disabilities Placards, completing title changes/updates and license plate replacements and renewals. Nearly every adult citizen in the county will interact with this department at least once if not multiple times each year. With population growth and an improving economy comes an increase in transactions. Compared to 2011, Motor Vehicles assisted approximately 130 more people each day in 2014. The County is collaborating to consolidate its Loveland offices into a new building that will bring together human services, health, motor vehicle, and the workforce center with the potential for including court related offices. The new County building in Loveland is expected to be open in 2017. SERVICES • Birth and Death Certificates • Elections and Voter Registration • Marriage Licenses • Property Value Assessment and Tax Collection • Public Records • Vehicle Registration SERVICES • Budgeting • Human Resources • Finance • County Attorney • Performance Measurement • Strategic Planning SERVICES • Alternative Sentencing • Community Corrections • Crime Statistics & Reporting • District Attorney • Emergency Management • Investigations • Coroner • Jail • Rural Patrol • Wildland Fire Management • Disaster Recovery PUBLIC SAFETY SERVICES BEING PREPARED: THE OFFICE OF EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT SAFE COMMUNITIES, IMPARTIAL JUSTICE Community Corrections Programs such as Alternatives to Incarceration for Individuals with Mental Health Needs (AIIM) and Wellness Court, help to reduce jail time for repeat offenders with mental health issues. The AIIM Program provides offenders with intensive supervision, mental health treatment and assistance with basic needs. Wellness Court (initiated in 2014) works to reduce the rate of re-offending by supporting long-term mental health recovery. Criminal Justice Services Division’s alternative sentencing options focus on public safety, mental health and substance abuse treatment and decreasing criminal behavior, which reduces dependence on the County Jail and State prisons. The daily, per-offender cost of Alternative Sentencing programs is about one-third of the cost of incarceration in the County Jail. In 2014, Criminal Justice Services options diverted an average of 604 jail and prison incarcerations per day. In 2015, the County adopted a new Emergency Management Plan to better prepare our community for disastrous events. Sign up for community alerts and incidents at leta911.org. Download the new Emergency Preparedness Guide at larimer.org/emergency. District Attorney Cliff Riedel utilizes a Community Per- spectives Committee, which meets quarterly to discuss law enforcement and pros- ecution issues. The com- mittee has a diverse group of participants geographi- cally representing the en- tire county. The Sheriff’s Office volun- teer programs uses 415 volunteers who logged about 48,000 hours in 2014. That means they provided over $1.2 million in services HUMAN AND ECONOMIC SERVICES HEALTHY PEOPLE, THRIVING ECONOMY The Larimer County Workforce Center and the Department of Human Services collaboratively serve families receiving Temporary Assistance for Needy Families. A central component of transitioning to self-sufficiency is the Workforce Center Works Program. Works participants receive the message that they can take charge of their future and discover their path to employment and a career. In 2014, nearly 35% of participants obtained employment through assistance from the Works Program. FAMILIES SERVED SUPPORTING SELF-SUFFICIENCY HELP SENIORS STAY IN THEIR HOMES The Senior Tax Work-Off Program allows seniors to reduce the bur- den of their property tax bill by temporarily working for Larimer County. The program allows people age 60 and over the op- portunity to work off up to $400 of the Larimer County portion of their property tax bill. larimer.org/seniors STAY ENGAGED LARIMER.ORG/BOCC • Monthly Informal Commissioner Citizen Meetings • Boards and Commissions • LC 101 - Citizen Academy • Public Meetings • Subscriptions TOTAL CREDIT EARNED BY SENIORS $22,500 IN THE 2014 PROGRAM SERVICES • Adult Protective Services • Air Quality Monitoring and Education • Child Care Assistance • Child Protection and Foster Care • Child Support • Communicable Disease Control • Extension Office • Food Stamps/Food Assistance • Health Education • Immunizations • Medicaid • Resources for Seniors • Restaurant Inspections • Temporary Assistance for Needy Families • Water Quality Regulation and Inspection • Workforce Training and Counseling Larimer County helped ap- proximately 1,300 low-in- come families by subsidizing childcare making it possible for parents to work outside HUMAN & ECONOMIC SERVICES $64,105,321 Safe Communities. Impartial Justice. • Alternative Sentencing • Animal Control • Code Compliance • Community Corrections • Coroner • Crime Prevention, Statistics & Reporting • Emergency Management • Jail Operations • Law Enforcement in Unincorporated Areas • Public Prosecution • Wildfire Fire Management Engaged Service. Efficient Government. • Budgeting • Communications • Elected & Executive Management • Facilities • Human Resources • Information Technology • Finance, Accounting & Purchasing • County Attorney • Performance Measurement • Strategic Planning Open Data. Transparent Processes. • Birth & Death Certificates • Elections & Voter Registration • Marriage Licenses • Property Value Assessment & Tax Collection • Public Records • Vehicle Registration Quality Infrastructure. Conscientious Planning. • Building Inspections • Community Planning & Development • County Parks & Trails • Development Planning • Engineering • Forestry • Landfill & Solid Waste Management • Open Spaces • Road & Bridge Maintenance & Repair • Rural Lands • The Ranch Funds Accountability. Financial Oversight. • Debt Service Funds • Federal & State Funds • Risk Management • Sales Tax Fund • Self-Insured Benefits Funds • Transfers Between Funds & Departments 2016 ADOPTED USES OF FUNDS* 2016 ADOPTED SOURCES OF FUNDS** INTERNAL CHARGES, DEBT PROCEEDS & TRANSFERS $108.5 M PROPERTY TAXES $105.9 M INTERGOVERNMENTAL REVENUE $87.5 M USE OF FUND BALANCE – $12.5 M PUBLIC SAFETY SERVICES $71.9 M HUMAN & ECONOMIC SERVICES $64.1 M COMMUNITY RESOURCES, INFRASTRUCTURE & PLANNING SERVICES $70.7 M STRATEGIC LEADERSHIP & ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES $31.6 M PUBLIC RECORDS & INFORMATION SERVICES $15.9 M www.larimer.org/budget 970.498.7017 * These uses exclude disaster recovery costs ($38,851,256) and non-operational accounts ($116,548,047). ** These funding sources include all revenue in the total adopted budget. MISCELLANEOUS & ALL OTHER – $7.5 M LICENSES & PERMITS – $6.2 M SALES & USE TAXES $44.3 M CHARGES FOR SERVICES (EXTERNAL) $37.2 M HUMAN & ECONOMIC SERVICES .....................$64,105,321 Commissioners & County Manager .........502,765 Cooperative Extension ...............................835,104 Health & Environment ........................... 9,402,458 Human Services ................................... 44,278,963 The Ranch — 4-H & Community Building ............................... 1,303,502 Workforce Center ....................................7,782,529 PUBLIC RECORDS & INFORMATION SVCS ...... $15,859,318 Assessor ..................................................4,171,848 Clerk & Recorder .................................... 9,963,166 Commissioner & County Manager ........... 251,917 Surveyor ........................................................19,935 Treasurer ................................................. 1,452,452 COMMUNITY RESOURCES, INFRASTRUCTURE & PLANNING SERVICES .................................. $70,695,117 Citizen Resources .......................................651,673 Code Compliance & Building .................1,955,224 Development Planning ..............................780,868 Engineering ..............................................4,550,172 Natural Resources ................................15,904,418 Road & Bridge .......................................33,445,941 Rural Land ..................................................374,696 Solid Waste Management ...................... 6,043,768 The Ranch ............................................... 6,988,357 PUBLIC SAFETY ...............................................$71,946,243 Alternative Sentencing Department ..... 5,686,955 Code Compliance & Building ................... 290,370 Community Corrections .......................10,201,978 Coroner .................................................... 1,315,187 Criminal Justice Coordination ................1,022,788 District Attorney ......................................7,918,531 Emergency Management ......................... 277,083 Sheriff ....................................................45,233,351 STRATEGIC LEADERSHIP & ADMIN SVCS ....... $31,627,960 Accounting & Reporting ..........................2,174,328 Budget Office ..............................................296,732 Commissioners & County Manager ......1,415,456 County Attorney .......................................1,970,588 Facilities Planning, Management & Operations ............................................6,143,351 Human Resources ...................................1,945,205 Information Technology ........................16,526,210 Print Shop & Mail ......................................400,437 Public Works Administration .....................387,351 Purchasing .................................................368,302 NON-OPERATIONAL GOVERNMENTAL ACCOUNTS .........................$116,548,047 Accounting & Reporting & Debt Service .........................................8,708,811 Budget Office Internal Transfers ..........29,682,181 Facilities Services .......................................410,905 Fleet Services ....................................... 10,223,603 Human Resources .................................21,794,325 Public Trustee ............................................456,000 Risk Management...................................2,566,508 Larimer County Humane Society Capital ....................................... 11,925,074 Sales Tax Collection & Distribution .... 30,780,640 DISASTER RESPONSE & RECOVERY ........................38,851,256 An example of a $326,002 residence LARIMER COUNTY BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS Email the Commissioners at BOCC@larimer.org. The 2016 Adopted Budget is available online; at the Budget Office, 200 West Oak St., Fort Collins; and in local libraries. District #1: Lew Gaiter III 970-498-7001 District #2: Steve Johnson 970-498-7002 District #3: Tom Donnelly 970-498-7003 UNDERSTANDING YOUR 2016 LOCAL PROPERTY TAXES Actual Value for 2015 taxes $282,988 Actual Value for 2016 taxes $326,002 State Determined Assessment Rate x 7.96% Value for Taxation $25,950 COMBINED MILL LEVY x 75.256 Total Taxes Due in 2016: $1,952.88 NOTE: A mill equals $1 on every $1,000 of taxable value. TAXING AUTHORITY MILL LEVY School District 40.268 COUNTY GOV’T SERVICES 21.571 COUNTY ABATEMENTS LEVY 0.090 ONE-TIME 2016 CREDIT -0.529 FOOTHILLS GATEWAY INC. 0.750 COUNTY GOV’T TOTAL 21.882 City Government Services 9.797 Hospital / Health Services 2.167 Other Services (Water, Library, etc.) 1.142 COMBINED MILL LEVY 75.256 NOTE: The above mill levies (except County) are examples. Each tax entity (where the property is located) will announce its mill levy when it adopts its annual budget. Your actual Combined Mill Levy depends on the location of the property. The School District Levy above represents the Big Thompson 2014-2015 Mill Levy. 1. HOW 2016 TAXES ARE CALCULATED NOTE: The County Assessor reappraises all property every two years, tax paid in 2016 is based on reappraised values. The example below is based on a 15.2 percent increase in property value, which is the total taxable value increase based on the 2015 reappraisal. 2. MILL LEVY OF TAXING AUTHORITIES 3. WHERE YOUR TAXES GO For 2016 Percent Your School District $1,044.95 53% COUNTY GOVERNMENT SERVICES 548.37 28% County for Foothills Gateway Inc. 19.46 1% Your City Government 254.23 13% Your Hospital/Health Services District 56.23 3% Other Districts (Water, Library, etc.) 29.64 2% Total Example Estimated Tax Bill $1,952.88 100% www.larimer.org/budget 970.498.7017 LARIMER COUNTY ELECTED OFFICES Assessor ...............Steve Miller Clerk & Recorder ......Angela Myers Coroner ....James A. Wilkerson, M.D. District Attorney ......... Cliff Riedel Sheriff ................Justin Smith Surveyor ...........Chad Washburn Treasurer ..............Irene Josey ADOPTED OPERATING BUDGET .......................$254,233,959 TOTAL ADOPTED BUDGET (WITH NON-OPERATIONAL GOVERNMENTAL ACCOUNTS, DISASTER RESPONSE AND RECOVERY) .......................$409,633,262 Healthy People. Thriving Economy. • 4-H Family & Consumer Education • Child & Foster Care • Emergency Preparedness & Response • Employment & Training Services • Enterprise Zone Support • Environmental Pollution Control • Financial Assistance Benefits • Restaurant Inspections • Maternal & Child Health Services • Mental Health Support • Public Health • Senior & Disabled Services • Veteran Services • Youth Corps PUBLIC RECORDS & INFORMATION SERVICES $15,859,318 COMMUNITY RESOURCES, INFRASTRUCTURE & PLANNING SERVICES $70,695,117 PUBLIC SAFETY SERVICES $71,946,243 STRATEGIC LEADERSHIP & ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES $31,627,960 NON-OPERATIONAL GOVERNMENTAL ACCOUNTS $116,548,047 LARIMER COUNTY – COMMITTED TO EXCELLENCE LARIMER COUNTY BUDGET BRIEF www.larimer.org/budget 970.498.7017 ADOPTED OPERATING BUDGET . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $254,233,959 TOTAL ADOPTED BUDGET (WITH NON-OPERATIONAL GOVERNMENTAL ACCOUNTS AND DISASTER COSTS) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $409,633,262 2016 the home and contribute to the overall wellbeing of our local economy. 2014-15 AWARDS Ginny Riley, Human Services, Northern CO Women of Distinction Gov. Category and Live United Community Collaboration Award, United Way Sharon Winfree, Criminal Justice, 37th Annual Judge Conrad L Ball Award Avie Strand, Community Health & Environment, McKee Community Health Award Deni LaRue, Community at Work radio show, 1st Place CO Broadcasters Awards of Excellence Community Report, ‘Superior’ Award of Excellence, National Assoc. of County Information Officers Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting, Government Finance Officers Association Earl Fawcett, Sheriff’s Deputy, Sally Henze Memorial Award Debbie Pierson, Veterans Services, Outstanding Work for Veterans award, 101st Airborne Division Association Department of Human Services, C-Stat Distinguished Performance, CO Department of Human Services With 1,100 individuals, Larimer County has the most 4-H club members of any county across the state. In recent years, more than 4,800 4-H exhibits were entered annually at the County Fair. DEVELOPING YOUTH The Larimer County Conservation Corps (LCCC) promotes individual development through service for the benefit of the environment and community. Through conservation-based projects and environmental education, the LCCC empowers participants (youth ages 14–24) to become environmental stewards, while developing self-sufficiency and skills to help them become productive members of the community. 2014 SPOTLIGHT: WATER & ENERGY PROGRAM Corps members assisted 850 Fort Collins and Loveland households in reducing their water and energy use through home assessments and providing recommendations. 2014 1,400 2013 2012 1,279 1,088 2011 1,021 at no cost to taxpayers. HIGH PARK FIRE Nearly three years after the High Park Fire burned 87,200 acres in Larimer County, recovery still continues. The County’s Rebuild Program extended reduced de- velopment fees and clean-up deadlines through July 30, 2017. For details call 970-498-7692. 2013 FLOODING Larimer County continues to fix roads and assess floodplain rules as part of the ongoing re- covery efforts. 51HOMES REBUILT 26IN THE PROCESS OF REBUILDING FRAUD & IDENTITY THEFT SHERIFF’S VOLUNTEERS ALTERNATIVE SENTENCING REDUCING REPEAT OFFENDERS: WELLNESS COURT ONGOING FIRE & FLOOD RECOVERY $1.2 M The District Attorney pros- ecutes cases brought by all Larimer County law enforce- ments agencies. 102MILES OF ROAD DAMAGED 38MILES OPEN/TEMPORARY REPAIRS 64MILES OPEN/PERMANENT REPAIRS .5MILE STILL CLOSED 417 PROPERTIES DESTROYED OR DAMAGED BUILDING PERMITS 217 ISSUED 276 Identity Theft cases prosecuted 801 All types of fraud cases prosecuted ALTERNATIVE SENTENCING: 250 • Alternative Sentencing Programs (Work Release, Electronic Home Detention, Workenders/Midweeks) • Pretrial Services COMMUNITY CORRECTIONS: 354 • Residential, Treatment, and Community Supervision Programs • AIIM/Wellness Court JAIL & PRISON BEDS SAVED PER DAY Community Corrections clients grow and sell produce to benefit nonprofits. 259 HOMES DESTROYED ENGAGED SERVICE, EFFICIENT GOVERNMENT The most used County communication source by participants in the 2015 citizen survey is larimer.org; over 75% had used the site and 90% found it useful. The County’s annual financial report has won a Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting for 31 consecutive years and counting! The certificate goes to local governments who publish comprehensive, easily readable, and efficiently organized annual reports. The annual report includes an audit of the County’s financial statements by a private firm of Certified Public Accountants. See these reports at larimer.org/finance. 2011 2012 2013 2014 2014 2014 2014 446,205 459,456 461,539 500,742 2,934 TRADITIONAL MARRIAGE LICENSES SAME-112 SEX MARRIAGE CIVIL 49 UNION LICENSES LICENSES TOTAL TRANSACTIONS: CONFIDENCE LEVEL (1.40 INCREASE) 2014 3.5 4.9 (.60 INCREASE) 2013 4.0 4.6 2012 BEFORE AFTER 3.8 4.5 (.70 INCREASE) 1=LOW CONFIDENCE, 5=HIGH CONFIDENCE (.90 INCREASE) 2015 3.8 4.7 AND SORTED TRANSPORTATION REPORT CARD 2014 Road condition grades reflect how well pavement surfaces are maintained. Safety grades are based on crash rates for a particular segment of road. For more information on roadway performance measures check out the Transportation Report Card at larimer.org/roads. 94% Portion of 2014 operating expenses covered by visitor fees to Horsetooth, Carter Lake, Pinewood and Flatiron Reservoirs and other park areas. PAVED ROAD CONDITIONS 2 2 % = C R A T I N G 6 % = D R A T I N G 4 5 % = B R A T I N G 2 4 % = A R A T I N G 3 % = F R A T I N G SAFETY RATINGS 1 3 % = C R A T I N G 1 0 % = D R A T I N G 9 % = B R A T I N G 6 4 % = A R A T I N G 4 % = F R A T I N G special districts. 2015 BUDGET SUMMARY HOW THE MONEY IS SPENT Public Safety Services: 30% Human & Economic Services: 26% Community Resources, Infrastructure and Planning: 25% Strategic Leadership & Administration: 13% Public Records & Information Services: 6% Total Operating Budget: $225M WHERE THE MONEY COMES FROM Internal Charges, Sale of Assets & Transfers: 32% Property Taxes: 24% Federal, State & Municipal Revenue: 20% Sales and Use Taxes: 11% Charges for Services (External): 9% Use of Fund Balance: 2% Licenses and Permits: 1% Interest Earnings and All Other: 1% Total Revenue – All Sources*: $390M * Includes transfers between departments and non-operational government funds 26% Issue 1-A: Help Preserve Open Space tax extension, .25 of one percent sales tax extended to 2043 Issue 1-B: Extension of a .15 of one percent sales tax for the operation of the Larimer County Jail through 2039 80% YES 70% YES 32% 24% 20% 11% 9% 2% 1% 1% 30% 26% 25% 13% 6% THANKS VOTERS! Vision: Larimer County is a thriving, friendly place where people of all ages, cultures, and economic backgrounds live, work, play and most of all, call home. Goal 1: Safety and Well-Being Goal 2: Economic Development Goal 3: Emergency Management Goal 4: Transportation Goal 5: Collaborate Goal 6: Operations Goal 7: Customer Service Learn more and check out our progress at Larimer.org/strategicplan. STRATEGIC PLAN The County keeps only