2. HistoryHistory Founded in 1861 Founded in 1861 El Paso is Spanish for the pass County acts as a pass between the great plains and the mountain region First inhabitants UteCheyenneArapahoeKiowa Economy took off in 1890s when gold was discovered in Cripple Creek

3. DemographicsDemographics Population - 575,851 Largest population of Colorados 64 counties Size - 2,129.97 square miles Lowest point - 5,052 feet - Chico Creek Highest point - 14,110 feet – Summit of Pikes Peak Open space - over 230 square miles Paved road - 900 miles Unpaved road - 1,075 miles

4. Demographics (Continued) Lowest mill levy of ten largest counties in Colorado 7.673 per $1,000 of taxable value Includes eight municipalities Colorado Springs Green Mountain Falls MonumentCalhan Palmer Lake Fountain Manitou Springs Ramah Average population growth of 18.5 percent over 10 years

5. El Paso Countys 2005 Property Tax Comparison (per person) *Per Ten County Budget Data Book

7. Elected Officials Board of County Commissioners (five members) Assessor Clerk and Recorder Coroner District Attorney Sheriff Surveyor Treasurer

8. Appointed Department Heads Internal Auditor Human Services Director Senior Services Veteran Services Social Services County Administrator County Attorney Employment Services Intergovernmental Affairs

9. Administrative Departments – External Services Development Services Environmental Services Justice Services Parks & Leisure Services Public Communications Transportation

10. Administrative Departments – Internal Services Employee Benefits & Medical Services Facilities Management Financial Services Fleet Management Information Management Procurement & Contracts Security & Parking

11. 2006 County Budget 2006 Annual County Budget: $244,259,314 Annual cost of county services per resident: $237.25

13. CommissionersCommissioners Sallie Clark District 3 Chair Dennis Hisey District 4 Vice Chair Jim Bensberg District 5 3rd Commissioner Wayne Williams District 1 Douglas Bruce District 2

14. Board of County Commissioners Administrative and policy- making body Has only such powers and authority as are granted by the General Assembly of the Colorado State Legislature Made-up of five constitutional officers Four-year term (two terms maximum)

15. Board of County Commissioners (Continued) Districts are equal in population District boundaries are established by the board every two years Board of County Commissioner meetings Mondays and Thursdays (except for July and August) 9 a.m. 27 East Vermijo, Third Floor Hearing Room

17. AssessorAssessor Studies the market and collects information about properties Discovers, lists and values all real and taxable personal property in the county Determines actual market value of residential properties Compares sales information for non- residential property John Bass

18. Clerk and Recorder Election Department Motor Vehicle Department Drivers License Department Recording Department Records Ensures permanent records are readily retrievable to public review Robert Balink

19. Clerk and Recorder (Continued) Clerk to Board of County Commissioners Prepares, processes, and preserves the records of proceedings and papers for the Board of County Commissioners Social Services Board Liquor Licensing Authority Application types Board of Equalization (BOE) BOE appeals Tax abatement petitions Hearing processes in accordance with statutory requirements

20. CoronerCoroner Determines the cause and manner of death of persons under any of the following circumstances Disease: Hazardous, contagious or a threat to the health of the general public External violence, an unexplained cause, or under suspicious circumstances No physician in attendance or physician is unable to certify the cause of death Thermal, chemical, or radiation injury Criminal abortion In a hospital less than 24 hours after admission Dr. Robert Bux

21. Coroner (Continued) Identifies deceased person Notifies next of kin Protects personal belongings Releases belongings to next of kin Pronounces death Issues death certificate with cause and manner of death

22. Enforces the criminal laws Follows through with charges after crime investigation Justice on behalf of the people District Attorney John Newsome

23. District Attorney (Continued) Functions, responsibilities and programs Criminal Prosecution Investigations Juvenile Prosecutions Juvenile Diversion Kids Against Crime Economic Crime Check Fraud Unit Welfare Fraud Child Abuse Diversion Victim-Witness Services Gang Intervention Video Civil Litigation Unit Public Speakers Volunteer Program Special Victims Unit Neighborhood Justice Center Domestic Violence Enhanced Response Team

24. Public Trustee Appointed by the Governor Liaison between the lender and the homeowner during the foreclosure process Releases deeds of trust and administers foreclosure proceedings on properties Funded by user fees that are set by Colorado Revised Statutes Holly Williams

25. SheriffSheriff Detention Bureau Manages operation of county jail Detention Security Division Direct supervision of inmates Detention Operations Division Intake and release transportation, classification, inmate security at courts, warrants Detention Support Division Gateways through the Rockies, monitor medical, laundry, and food service contracts. Terry Maketa

26. Sheriff (Continued) Law Enforcement Bureau Emergency Services Division Investigations Division Patrol Division Support Services Bureau Administrative Services Division Budget, training and communications Professional Standards Division Internal Affairs, Records, Information Technology and Public Information Office

27. SurveyorSurveyor Represents the county in disputes over county boundaries Conducts surveys of county boundaries Examines all maps and plats before recording with the County Clerk and Recorder Establishes disputed boundaries when applied for or at the appointment by the courts Chris Brewer

28. TreasurerTreasurer Collects and distributes property taxes in compliance with Colorado Statutes Serves as banker and investment officer for all county funds Collects unpaid property taxes and special assessments Serves as agent for lien payment from tax lien sale Sandra Damron

29. to the Board of County Commissioners

30. County Attorney Appointed by Board of County Commissioners Advises and represents county elected officials and agencies Supervises Employment Services Division Inter-governmental Affairs Division

31. Department of Health and Environment Governed by a five member Board of Health appointed by the Board of County Commissioners Monitors the community health status to identify health problems Enforces laws and regulations that protect health and ensure safety Links people to needed personal health services and assures care when otherwise unavailable

32. Human Services Senior Services Enhances quality of life for older adults Helps avoid premature institutionalization Provides advocacy and collaboration for adult protection and involvement in the community Veteran Services Provides personalized VA Benefit services to veterans and their families

33. Human Services (Continued) Services for children and families Self-sufficiency, employment and welfare diversion Child abuse and neglect protection – foster care, kinship care, adoption Family preservation and reunification including voluntary services Substance abuse and mental health treatment Administers Federal and State benefits programs

34. Internal Auditor Position created by the Board of County Commissioners in 2005 Assures taxpayers receive the best value possible Ensures that operations are effective, efficient and adhere to established policies Identifies risks and ensures that controls are in place to minimize those risks

36. Development Services Processes and monitors land use and related applications for all areas of unincorporated El Paso County Coordinates the Planning Commission and the Board of Adjustment

37. Employee Benefits and Medical Services Risk Management Services Reduces avoidable and unavoidable risk to the county Compensation Employee salary administration Employee classification plan administration Employee Benefits For eligible employees, retirees and dependents Employee pharmacies and medical clinics For eligible employees, retirees and dependents All prescribed medications and over-the-counter medications available for dispensing

38. Environmental Services Forestry and Noxious Weeds Division Enforces the Colorado Noxious Weed Act and Pest Act through education Controls Noxious Weeds and Mountain Pine Beetle on county owned property Natural Resources Division Addresses threatened and endangered species issues Wetlands mitigation, permitting, and banking Development reviews

39. Environmental Services (Continued) Solid Waste Management Division Household Chemical Waste Collection Facility Public information and publications Recycling directory Environmental responsible education Programs include Black Forest Slash Mulch Fire Mitigation Yard Waste Collection Drop & Swap Tree Cycle

40. FacilitiesFacilities Provides functional, clean, safe and secure facilities Manages 118 buildings Total of 2,028,011 square feet of space Plans, designs and manages construction of new facilities and interiors Real estate purchases, sales, leases and management Long range master plans for facilities and space allocation Utilities management and energy conservation

41. Financial and Budget Services Provides accounting functions for the county Provides accounting functions for the county Monitors the expenditure and revenue transactions Performs internal audits Accounts for salaries, withholding and deductions Analyzes and detects problems with expenditures or revenue collections Administers funding contracts Oversees Economic and Community Development

42. FleetFleet Services, maintains, purchases and rents vehicles and equipment for 17 departments Fleet size averages 1,000 vehicles or pieces of equipment Three garages Welding/fabrication shop and a fully equipped auto body shop Two used oil recycling collection points

43. Information Technology Foundation for all county offices and departments to deliver cost effective services and information Provides services to the public, state, and approximately 2,000 county employees Of the three counties with populations over 500,000, El Paso County averaged 50 percent lower IT budgets and 10 percent fewer technical staff in 2005 IT help desk opened 18,775 tasks, projects and trouble calls and closed 17,419 in 2005

44. Justice Services Promotes coordinated and proactive criminal justice planning in the 4th Judicial District Advises and assists the Board of County Commissioners on matters relating to criminal justice Provides courts, Department of Corrections, and the State Board of Parole with correctional options for offenders Determines incarcerated defendants eligibility for release from jail on Personal Recognizance Bonds

45. Parks & Leisure Services Total property of 5,512 acres 86 miles of trail Acquires, develops, maintains and preserves regional parks, trails and open space Manages resources and protects public lands Provides natural and cultural history interpretation and information through the Bear Creek and Fountain Creek nature centers Conducts annual County Fair Maintains grounds for county-owned property including the fairgrounds

46. Parks & Leisure Services (Continued) Provides a variety of sports facilities, pavilions and other park facilities for public use including Bear Creek Black Forest Ceresa Clear Spring Ranch Fountain Creek Fox Run Homestead Ranch Paint Mines Palmer Lake Widefield

47. Colorado State University Cooperative Extension Established by Congress in 1914 Part of a land-grant university system Extension is located in 57 counties Frequently asked questions involve Agriculture & Natural Resource Management Family & Consumer Science - Nutrition, food preparation and preservation and food safety Horticulture - Commercial and residential landscapes Nutrition - Food and nutrition education programs Rural and urban 4-H education and youth development Information available on a myriad of topics

48. Procurement and Contracts Assists all county departments with the procurement of materials, supplies and equipment Annually purchases approximately $70,000,000 worth of commodities, services and equipment Coordinates disposal of surplus items Accredited by the National Institute of Governmental Purchasing Approval from BOCC needed for purchases exceeding $25,000

49. Public Communications Supports Board of County Commissioners Administrative Departments Non-board Elected Officials Media and community relations News releases Liaison to the Citizen Outreach Group Public outreach programs and public meetings Fulfills requests for information based upon Colorado Open Records Act

50. Security/ParkingSecurity/Parking Protects county property and assets Protects county property and assets Monitors and controls access to county facilities Insures safety and welfare of county employees and the general public while on county property Provides security to the 4th Judicial District of Colorado Courthouse Oversees professional parking services at county facilities Oversees professional parking services at county facilities

51. TransportationTransportation Highway Division Roadway group 959 miles of paved road and 1,034 miles of unpaved road Drainage group Bridges (230) and drainage culverts (approximately 8,000) Support group Signs (approximately 45,000) and signals (80) Capital Projects Management Division Project Management Group Stormwater Management Group

52. Transportation (Continued) Engineering Division Engineering Design and Program Management Group Surveying Group Traffic Engineering/Transportation Planning Group The Administrative Division Resource Management Group Customer Service & Dispatch Group Communications & Training Support Group Employment Services Office