HomeMy WebLinkAbout20102958.tiff HEARING CERTIFICATION
DOCKET NO. 2010-58
RE: 2011 FINAL BUDGET
A public hearing was conducted on December 15, 2010, at 9:00 a.m., with the following present:
Commissioner Douglas Rademacher, Chair
Commissioner Barbara Kirkmeyer, Pro-Tem
Commissioner Sean P. Conway
Commissioner William F. Garcia
Commissioner David E. Long
Also present:
Acting Clerk to the Board, Esther E. Gesick
County Attorney, Bruce T. Barker
Director of Budget and Management Analysis, Donald D. Warden
The following business was transacted:
I hereby certify that pursuant to a notice dated November 12, 2010, and duly published
November 17, 2010, in the Fort Lupton Press, a public hearing was conducted to consider the 2011
Final Budget for Weld County. Donald Warden, Director of Budget and Management Analysis,
made this a matter of record and reviewed the summary of 2011 Budget Changes made since the
Proposed Budget for the record. (Clerk's Note: The summary of changes is included as backup to
the Resolution Summarizing Expenditures and Revenues and Adopting the 2011 Budget.)
Commissioner Conway moved to remove the 2011 personal property tax credit for Abound Solar
from the budget. Commissioner Garcia seconded the motion for purposes of discussion.
Commissioner Conway stated he is opposed to issuing a credit during this time of continued budget
reductions in which Weld County employees have participated with no cost of living adjustments.
He explained the agreement was entered into prior to the recession and the terms clearly state that
if the money is available the County will make payment. He stated the Board has entered into
separate agreements with Vestas, and some of the others on the list are long standing, or will be
going away in the near future. He further stated this is the first time the Abound Solar credit has
been before the Board for approval and he does not believe it is appropriate to fund at this time. He
indicated the Board will continue to review the matter on an annual basis and can appropriate the
funds in the future if budget conditions improve.
Mr.Warden clarified the tax credit agreement is for a 10-year period and although the Board cannot
go back and make payment on missed years, they can issue credit in future years if they desire.
Commissioner Conway clarified his motion is to forego payment for this year only. Chair
Rademacher stated he wants to be consistent and if the Abound Solar credit is denied, then they
should all be denied. Commissioner Kirkmeyer stated there should be a relation between the credit
and the number of jobs created in Weld County. She stated she supports the motion because it is
consistent with the Board's previous action to withhold the credit for Kodak when it began
eliminating jobs. She stated she would forego the Vestas credit as well, except there is a separate
agreement with the City of Brighton, in relation to Vestas, as it relates to the tax credit. She further
stated the Town of Windsor is very supportive of the Owens-Brockway facility and its ability to create
jobs. Commissioner Garcia stated he appreciates the statements of Commissioners Conway and
Kirkmeyer since the County was in a different financial position when the agreement was executed.
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He stated he voted favorably for the credit because the County had funding and the agreement does
not encumber future boards with debt because they did have the money and it has been set aside.
Commissioner Long stated he does not support the motion; the Board needs to be consistent and
uphold the original agreement. He stated it is too difficult to enforce the standard of requiring a
certain percentage of employees who reside in Weld County.
Commissioner Conway stated he appreciates all of the comments; however, he believes this action
is consistent because the Board already singled out Kodak last year and he focused on Abound
Solar since this is the first year for payment of a credit. He stated his proposal is consistent with the
structure of the agreement by only foregoing this year's payment. He commented he wants Abound
Solar to demonstrate they are creating jobs in Weld County and explain how granting them the
credit is a benefit to Weld County, similar to Vestas representatives who took the initiative to meet
with the Board on many instances. Commissioner Garcia stated he does not intend to change his
position on the matter at this time; however, he agrees that it would be beneficial for Abound Solar
to start communications with the Board. Commissioner Long stated foregoing payment to Kodak
was an obvious decision based on the reduction of jobs, and he agreed future discussions,
concerning the benefit to Weld County, needs to be specific to services provided and employees
living in Weld County. Commissioner Conway reiterated his primary concern with issuing the credit
at this time is that Abound Solar has not communicated any benefit, although the Board is using
taxpayer dollars, and he expects a higher standard. Commissioner Kirkmeyer stated she would like
to review specifically how other counties in the Front Range are doing performance agreements in
conjunction with their personal property tax credits. Mr. Warden referred to a recent Denver Post
article indicating Abound Solar is receiving a$400 million grant/loan guarantee for expansion of the
manufacturing, so obviously something is going on at the facility. Upon a call for the motion, the
motion to remove the 2011 Personal Property Tax Credit for Abound Solar from the Budget failed
three to two, with Chair Rademacher and Commissioners Garcia and Long opposed.
No public testimony was offered concerning this matter.
Commissioner Kirkmeyer moved to approve the Resolution to Summarize Expenditures and
Revenues for Each Fund and Adopt the 2011 Budget as submitted. The motion was seconded by
Commissioner Conway, and it carried unanimously.
Mr. Warden confirmed Emergency Ordinance#244, In the Matter of the Annual Appropriation for
Weld County, Colorado, for Fiscal Year 2011, was previously read into the record by tape. He
stated most entities approve the Annual Appropriation by Resolution; however, the Weld County
Home Rule Charter requires this action by Ordinance. No public testimony was offered concerning
this matter. Commissioner Kirkmeyer moved to approve Ordinance#244 on an emergency basis.
The motion was seconded by Commissioner Long, and it carried unanimously.
Mr. Warden recommended approval of the Resolution setting the mill levy at 16.804 mills,which is
estimated to raise$78,371,679.00. Commissioner Conway moved to approve the Resolution to Set
Mill Levy. The motion was seconded by Commissioner Kirkmeyer, and it carried unanimously.
There being no further discussion, the hearing was completed at 10:20 a.m.
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This Certification was approved on the 20th day of December, 2010.
APPROVED:
BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
ELD COUN COLORADO
ATTEST: i, 'a _._ -m t .at vac i
%���•la Rademach-r, C air
Weld County Clerk to the Bo 1861 (: _0 /a
O �•ara Kirkmeyer, ro-Tem fBY:S. ]
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Dept Clerk to the Board Sean P. Conway
EXCUSED DATE OF APPROVAL
Vyilliam F. Garcia
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David E. Long MI
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