The Jefferson County Citizen Budget Review Panel presented their recommendations, including the creation of a Major Building Capital Reserve Account to fund large capital projects, to the Jefferson County Board of Commissioners at its Staff Briefing Tuesday, Aug. 18.

Earlier this year, Commissioners asked the 15-member committee to conduct an independent review of how the county should address more than $277 million in projected construction, equipment and maintenance costs through 2013. Upon the Commissioners' unanimous vote to accept the recommendations, Jefferson County staff will review and consider presenting them for final vote by the Commissioners this fall. The 2010 budget is expected to be adopted in December.

The panel returned with several recommendations for Commissioners, including no need for additional taxes.

"The panel strongly believes that the county can meet its anticipated capital construction needs within existing revenue and existing sources of revenue and without the need for any tax increase," the panel's report read. "The panel recommends that the County Commissioners do not consider the option of seeking additional tax revenues from Jefferson County citizens for any capital construction project."

Other recommendations were:

· To establish a Major Building Capital Reserve Account in the county's general fund. Commissioners would annually appropriate the amount in the account at their discretion.

· To budget in 2010 for a courtroom remodeling, data center relocation, government facilities consolidation, and an expansion of the Detention and Correction Facilities. These projects would be financed with a total annual appropriation of no more than $5 million and a total payment term of no more than 20 years.

· To consider Certificates of Participation, Build America Bonds or other financing at the best interests of Jefferson County citizens.

· To fund other capital projects either through the Building Maintenance Reserve or on a pay-as-you-go basis.

· To continue to pause or moderate federally or state-mandated programs that put pressure on the county tax base, and use judgment that some projects are necessary without sufficient funding if they are deemed essential to public safety or other economic considerations.

In 2007, a Citizens Panel made recommendations to the county to help guide commissioners as they faced a $12 million shortfall. As a result, the county's expenses no longer outweigh its revenues and its reserve balance is stable. The 2009 Citizen Budget Review Panel began meeting in February. Its work included meetings with the Commissioners, other elected officials and an outside public finance expert.

The following Jefferson County residents served on the Citizen Budget Review Panel: C.J. Conant, of Fairmount; Joe Dix, of Conifer; Ray Elliot, of Lakewood; Michael Feeley, of Lakewood; Pam Feely, of Lakewood; Peter Jacobson, of Evergreen; Jason Murphy, of Meadow Ranch; Al Parker, of Arvada; Bill Schroeder, of Willowbrook; Jacqueline Scott, of Conifer; Greg Stevinson, of Ken Caryl; Bruce Strand, of Genesee; John Witwer, of Evergreen; and Karen Verdier, of Aspen Creek.

For more information about the Citizen Budget Review Panel, go to http://jeffco.us/citizenpanel.htm. To read the committee's full report, go to http://bit.ly/dUH2G.