Jeffco's Own "Top Ethical Failure" of 2011

by: Jeffco Pols

Wed Dec 28, 2011 at 14:23:20 PM MST

Colorado Ethics Watch filed a complaint with the Ethics Commission alleging that McCasky lobbied for an increase in county funding to the Jefferson Economic Council while at the same time applying for his current position as president there.

As it turns out, that was (or at least looks like) an incredibly corrupt - not to mention asinine - thing to do. While it may have earned McCasky the job and a pretty pay check, he's now facing the kind of scorn that will almost certainly smother any future political aspirations. In fact, his actions have earned the rare qualification of "top ethical failure."

From Colorado Ethics Watch:

Ethics Watch, a nonpartisan, nonprofit legal watchdog group, today released Ethics Roundup: Top Ethical Failures of 2011, the organization's fourth annual report highlighting Colorado's public officials, agencies and municipalities who have either committed ethics violations or shown significant lack of judgment that places their behavior in the top tier of ethical failures in the state in the past year.

"Only by paying attention to the actions of our government agencies and officials, identifying ethical lapses, and shining a light on them will we be assured to have what Colorado voters have demanded - transparent and accountable public leaders," said Luis Toro, director of Colorado Ethics Watch.

...

Golden Parachute:  After submitting his resume for a highly paid position at the Jefferson Economic Council, Jefferson County Commissioner Kevin McCasky voted to approve a $400,000 grant, an increase of $20,000 over the previous year, from Jefferson County to that organization.

Pior to his tenure at the Jefferson Economics Council, McCasky's name was often brought up as a potential Republican candidate for CD-7. The commissioner was twice elected countywide despite being by and large perceived as culpable in most of Jeffco's famed ethical troubles. With this recent investigation, however, McCasky's name is forever tarnished - he'll never be able to live down the potential mailers or television ads labeling him as corrupt and making mention of his "golden parachute."

Unless, of course, he figures out a way to buy a seat in Congress using public funds. It sounds impossible, but it's par for the course in Jefferson County, where elected officials are the most innovative when determining ways to waste taxpayer dollars.  

Paging Ted Stevens: Jeffco's Bridge to Nowhere

by: Jeffco Pols

Fri Nov 11, 2011 at 11:11:00 AM MST

Clark centers his story on the pedestrian bridge located at Wadsworth Boulevard and Bowles Avenue in South Jeffco, which links Southwest Plaza and Bowles Crossing shopping centers. We've seen that bridge before, but we've never seen anybody actually use it. Neither mall is really vibrant, and we have a creeping suspicion that the bridge will remain standing much longer than the shipping centers it links.

The most bizarre aspect of this story, though, is that Jefferson County can't even justify the $3 million they spent on the bridge. At least, they can't justify it privately.

From 9News:

As Jefferson County publicly defended a $3 million pedestrian bridge at Wadsworth Boulevard and Bowles Avenue as a "lasting asset," the county's engineer on the project privately acknowledged it was expensive and unnecessary, 9Wants to Know has learned.

Internal emails obtained by 9Wants to Know using Colorado Open Records Act show county officials struggling to justify the pedestrian bridge, completed in the spring of 2011 using a combination of federal and local tax dollars.

The bridge spanning Wadsworth just north of Bowles, connects two aging shopping malls, Southwest Plaza and Bowles Crossing. Some citizens, including resident Gary Michelson, have dubbed it: "The Bridge To, And From, Nowhere."

When Michelson wrote to county leaders calling the bridge a "terrible waste of funds," he received a stock answer from project engineer Brad Bauer that was similar to the two-page defense of the project sent to other concerned citizens. In one such response, Bauer writes the bridge will be a "lasting asset" that will "significantly improve the pedestrian safety at the intersection."

That is not what the county's point-man on the project was saying behind the scenes.

After an email exchange with Michelson, Bauer emailed his supervisor on June 22 saying he was "having a hard time coming up with any good response," adding that he could agree with Michelson's points about "the bridge being an expensive unnecessary expense."

Just to make it clear: the liaison for the project is unable to respond to constituent complaints about the bridge, because he agrees with them.

Clark interviews Kevin French, with Jeffco's Transportation and Engineering Department, and French is about as eloquent as Rick Perry in his most recent debate performance. You really have to watch the interview to get the full effect, but French doesn't really answer any of Clark's questions. When asked how French's department can justify, well, their justification of the bridge to concerned taxpayers, French responds "it's the best we have." That's the answer he finally comes to, at least, after first responding that he "wasn't sure he had a good answer to that." If you're a big fan of deer caught in headlights, it's a must watch.

This is one of the most asinine government decisions we've ever seen, and that's saying something for Jefferson County. $3 million for a bridge? The August 2009 resolution which Clark discusses is even worse: then Commissioners Kevin McCasky and Kathy Hartman voted for it, as did current Commissioner Faye Griffin.  They approved an "expenditure of an amount not to exceed $376,600.00 to Muller Engineering Company, Inc. for final design, and additional services as needed."

Nearly $400,000 for the "final design," huh? 400 grand for a couple of drawings of a bridge? We assume the "additional services as needed" are in case Muller Engineering ran out of graph paper or erasers.

This is an important story for champions of good, transparent government, of course. But it also carries with it political implications. The folks in south Jeffco - those who see this bridge during their daily commutes - historically support the election of Republicans to the Board of Commissioners. But this same bridge, this "monument of government waste," was approved with the votes of Republicans Kevin McCasky and Faye Griffin. If the vote on this bridge was before 2008's election, we're not sure if McCasky could've recovered.

IEC Moves Forward with McCasky Investigation

by: Jeffco Pols

Thu Jun 30, 2011 at 10:54:35 AM MST

There's an obvious conflict-of-interest issue in what McCasky did, so we're not surprised an ethics complaint was filed. This is the Jefferson County Commission, after all. It would've been much more surprising if McCasky hadn't violated some sort of moral or ethical code in his time as an elected official.

Still, we bet that McCasky's wishing he hadn't lobbied quite so hard for that extra dough for his new office. From an e-mail we received from Colorado Ethics Watch:

The Colorado Independent Ethics Commission decided on Friday to proceed with an investigation and hearing on the complaint filed by Colorado Ethics Watch against Kevin McCasky, former member of the Jefferson County Board of County Commissioners and current CEO of the Jefferson Economic Council (JEC). Ethics Watch asked the IEC to investigate McCasky for possibly violating state ethics laws when he voted to increase the county government's contribution to the JEC reportedly in the midst of negotiating his own future employment at the organization.

"We look forward to a full Commission investigation of Mr. McCasky's hiring by the nonprofit that received a funding increase from the county at a time of scarcity," said Luis Toro, director of Colorado Ethics Watch.  "We are pleased that the IEC is taking this issue seriously, just as it has taken seriously advisory opinion requests from state officials who were seeking private sector employment."

We've heard from numerous sources that the current County Commission, sans McCasky, isn't keen on continuing funding of the JEC. That might mean a double whammy for McCasky; he might lose his job while at the same time being investigated by the state's Ethics Commission. Even if the IEC drops its investigation, this is the kind of thing that could hurt McCasky's political future...or whatever was left of one.

One More Ethics Complaint for the Road

by: Jeffco Pols

Thu Mar 03, 2011 at 10:18:19 AM MST

Here's the press release from Colorado Ethics Watch:

Colorado Ethics Watch filed a complaint with the Independent Ethics Commission (IEC) against Kevin McCasky, former member of the Jefferson County Board of County Commissioners and current CEO of the Jefferson Economic Council (JEC), for violating state ethics laws when he voted to increase the county government's contribution to the JEC reportedly in the midst of negotiating his own future employment at the organization.

This is the second complaint Ethics Watch has filed with the Independent Ethics Commission since it was approved by voters in November 2006.  The first, a complaint against former Secretary of State Mike Coffman, resulted in the first public hearing of an ethics complaint by the IEC.

On February 16, it was revealed in the Columbine Courier that McCasky had encouraged his fellow county commissioners to increase JEC funding from $380,000 to $400,000 even while he was being considered for the high-paying position at the JEC.  At the time, the county was facing significant budget cuts.

"It appears as though McCasky abused his position as county commissioner for private gain, either gaining increased consideration of his candidacy for the position at the JEC, or an increased budget for the organization he would work for in the future, or both," said Luis Toro, director of Colorado Ethics Watch.  "The IEC should investigate this matter immediately to determine if a violation of state ethics laws occurred, and impose the proper penalty."

While Commissioner McCasky's salary as CEO of JEC is not publicly known, JEC's Form 990 filed with the Internal Revenue Service for 2009 reported that the salary of the previous CEO was $121,000.  Salary for a Jefferson County Commissioner is set at $87,300.

If Commissioner McCasky was involved in negotiations for future employment with the JEC at the time he took direct official action benefiting the JEC in December 2010, then Ethics Watch believes McClasky violated Colorado's Ethics Code, which includes "prospective employment for which negotiations have begun" as a type of financial interest that could create a conflict of interest.  In addition, the gift ban provisions of Article XXIX of the Colorado Constitution include "promises or negotiations of future employment" within the definition of gifts that are generally limited to $50 per person per year.

The Independent Ethics Commission was established in 2006 as this state's primary recourse for ethics complaints and investigations.  It is authorized to conduct investigations, hold public hearings, and render findings on complaints regarding allegations that any public official failed to comply with appropriate standards of conduct under state law.

For the complaint and all related documentation, or for more information on Colorado Ethics Watch, visit www.coloradoforethics.org.  

John Odom Appointed County Commissioner

by: Jeffco Pols

Tue Mar 01, 2011 at 17:29:40 PM MST

Republican John Odom, a former candidate in state Senate District 20, has been selected to succeed Kevin McCasky as the next Jefferson County commissioner.

Odom, 43, a Golden resident who owns part of Blue Sky Medical, aWheat Ridgemedical-supply distribution company, was announced Tuesday as the Jefferson County Republican Party vacancy committee's top candidate.

Odom lost to Democrat Cheri Jahn in the 2010 general election by about 4 percentage points.

McCasky Lobbied Jeffco to Give More Money to His New Boss

by: Jeffco Pols

Wed Feb 16, 2011 at 15:59:40 PM MST

Jeffco Commissioner Kevin McCasky proposed an increase of $20,000 in the county's contribution to the Jefferson Economic Council last year while he was a candidate for the private economic development organization's top job, the Columbine Courier has learned.

McCasky's application for the high-paying JEC position was under consideration in November when the county's 2011 budget was revised to increase JEC funding from $380,000 to $400,000 - as McCasky urged his fellow commissioners to boost Jeffco's contribution while the county itself was facing significant budget cuts.

McCasky, who was named in January to succeed Preston Gibson after Gibson resigned as JEC president last year, says he sees no conflict of interest in his actions. The commissioner, leaving office this week to begin his job at the JEC, says funding the economic council has been a consistent practice in each year of his tenure as a commissioner.

"It is clearly a conflict of interest when a person in government rolls a vote on a budget for an organization for (which) he is seeking employment," said Colorado Common Cause executive director Jenny Flanagan. Despite any history of previous advocacy for the organization's budget, an interest in employment with the organization is problematic, she said.

"That's all fine up until he participates in the application for employment," Flanagan said...

... The JEC - which typically receives the majority of its funding from Jeffco's general fund and gets more than twice as many dollars from Jeffco as any other organization - submits a proposed budget annually to the county. The proposed budget for 2011 was $380,000.

Former county commissioner Kathy Hartman, who was defeated by Don Rosier in the November election, said the JEC approached the commissioners about a funding increase but confirmed that McCasky actively lobbied her and Commissioner Faye Griffin for the boost.

Loan? What Loan? Don't Worry About It

by: Jeffco Pols

Tue Feb 01, 2011 at 17:28:39 PM MST

Jefferson County on Tuesday granted a decade-long grace period on a loan of more than $6.4 million to an undeveloped metropolitan district for construction of the C-470 and Alameda interchange.

Green Tree Metropolitan District, which is governed by at least one developer who has contributed substantially to Jeffco Republican campaigns, borrowed the money in 2007 from the county to help construct the $17 million interchange.

Under the loan's original terms in an intergovernmental agreement, Green Tree was to begin repayment at the end of 2011 with an installment of more than $2 million. The remaining principal and interest were to be repaid at the end of 2013.

But the district cites the economy for a lack of development that would allow it to begin repaying the debt.

"Our agreement anticipated development that would allow for repayment starting late this year. With current conditions we are many years away from any development necessary to begin to repay the cost of this interchange," Green Tree board member John Mullins wrote in an e-mail to Jefferson County. "We are suggesting 2021 as a better date."

Did campaign contributions help grease the wheels for this loan forgiveness? Reporter Emile Hallez Williams thought it worth questioning:

McCasky, who has received at least $9,000 in campaign contributions from three members of Green Tree's board, said the donations played no factor in his decision to approve the loan.

And despite the fact that McCasky received $3,500 from the board members less than two months before the agreement was approved, he said he had no idea who sat on the district's board.

"This isn't about Green Tree...I don't even know who Green Tree is. They're just the metropolitan district managing the property," McCasky said. "It's immaterial who the board members are." [Jeffco Pols emphasis]

On Aug. 7, 2007, McCasky received $500 from John Mullins, $500 from Bill Jenkins and $2,500 from Greg Stevinson - all Green Tree board members. The original intergovernmental agreement was approved on Oct. 2, 2007.

Additionally, Commissioner Faye Griffin has received $9,000 to date from Stevinson in her runs for county treasurer and commissioner, though she was not in her current office when the agreement was drafted. She also received $250 from Mullins and $250 from Jenkins in 2008.

The idea that former County Commissioner Kevin McCasky, who recently resigned to head up the Jefferson Economic Council, has no idea who is involved with Green Tree is laughable at best. Williams notes $3,500 in campaign contributions that occurred prior to the 2007 vote, but over the years McCasky has received much more -- tens of thousands of dollars, in fact -- in campaign contributions from people affiliated with Green Tree.

McCasky Resigning from Board of Commissioners

by: Jeffco Pols

Thu Jan 20, 2011 at 12:52:20 PM MST

Jefferson County Commissioner Kevin McCasky announced Wednesday he will be stepping down from his elected position to accept a job as president and CEO of the Jefferson Economic Council.

McCasky, a Republican whose term would have run through 2012, had previously sat on the JEC's board as a representative of the county. His hiring was approved Jan. 19 at the nonprofit's board meeting...

...McCasky will be replaced on the commission in late February by a candidate selected by a Jefferson County Republican Party vacancy committee. A representative of the party could not be reached immediately for comment.

"The exact date is yet to be set," McCasky said of his last day, which he said will be in roughly a month, enough time for his party to select a replacement...

...Candidates to replace him likely include Wheat Ridge City Council member Davis Reinhart and recently appointed Jefferson County Library board member Ray Elliott, McCasky said. Though Lakewood City Council member Ed Peterson has also expressed interest in running for the office in 2012, he had not necessarily said he would pursue the temporary appointment, McCasky said.

"Davis and Ray told me they will apply to fill the vacancy," he said. "It's going to be a competitive race."

Open Space Funds for Non-Open Space Purposes?

by: Jeffco Pols

Tue Dec 21, 2010 at 10:30:20 AM MST

"This is a quarter of a billion dollars in stimulus we can't pass up," exalted County Commissioner Kevin McCasky in a story last week. "It's going to be a great Christmas."

Commissioner McCasky clearly has caught the holiday spirit and envisions a joyous Noel at the Taj Mahal. In fact, he's even provided the snow job.

The happy outburst from our favorite transparent commissioner came as the city of Boulder and Boulder County prepare to end their longstanding opposition to construction of the Jefferson Parkway, the missing link in the beltway around metro Denver. And this wondrous reversal would be brought about by nothing less than $5 million in Jeffco Open Space funds. Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus. And he says his name is Kevin.

But fear not, gentle taxpayer. Jeffco's $5 million bribe is an investment in the future - in a future land buffer to keep Boulder County's delicate sensibility from being disturbed by the bonanza of development dollars and tax revenue this highway would generate for Jeffco.  

Yes, Santa lives in the hearts of Jeffco officials. But Machiavelli continues to possess their souls.

Jim Moore Shown the Door

by: Jeffco Pols

Fri Dec 11, 2009 at 15:55:44 PM MST

Jefferson County administrator Jim Moore has been fired, weeks after the county paid out $766,000 related to age- and sex-discrimination cases involving him.

The three commissioners voted unanimously Wednesday night to oust Moore, who assumed his position four years ago and was on track to earn about $150,000 this year.

Commissioners declined to comment. Jeffco spokeswoman Kathryn Heider said the reasons for the firing would not be revealed because it is a personnel matter. The commissioners met in secret to discuss their decision, then voted in public on the firing, as required by Colorado law.

Moore's firing also came only hours after a federal jury delivered a verdict in favor of Mike Zinna, who sued former commissioner Jim Congrove for allegedly violating his First Amendment rights. Moore testified on behalf of Zinna.

Moore could not be reached for comment.

Ralph Schell, director of the county's open-space department, has been named interim administrator. He said Thursday that he "was looking forward to the new challenge."

Commissioners Want to Limit Bicycle Access

by: Jeffco Pols

Wed Jul 22, 2009 at 16:04:32 PM MST

Amid the controversy over a proposed charity bicycle event on Deer Creek Canyon Road, the Jeffco commissioners will propose state legislation that would give them more authority to bar cyclists from some county roads altogether.

Conflict between motorists and cyclists is nothing new on the canyon roads west of South Jeffco in the foothills. But a recent battle over using a portion of Deer Creek Canyon Road for a September fund-raising event has spurred the commissioners to seek broader authority in making some roads off limits to cyclists. The county attorney's office will draft the legislation soon, and the county will try to get a legislator to sponsor it in the 2010 legislative session.

"This morning the board recognized that we have severe issues in Deer Creek Canyon and in other areas," Commissioner Kevin McCasky said June 30 at a hearing on whether the September cycling event would receive a special-use permit.

McCasky was the only commissioner who voted to approve the event, saying that denying the event was penalizing it "for the sins" of earlier cyclist-motorist squabbles. He said that the county would seek powers to "regulate authority over the behavior of cyclists and motorists (on county roadways) all year."

Commissioner Faye Griffin said after the hearing that the plan is in the idea stage, and nothing formal has occurred. But the debate over cycling on some roads showed the commissioners that they need more power, she said.

"We need to look at (laws) that make certain roads in the county (unusable) by bike traffic," Griffin said. "We're saying to our lobbyist to look at the possibility of having some discretion on what roads can have bike traffic and which cannot. Right now there's clearness for cities, but we can't find that the county can say that."

County Attorney Ellen Wakeman said state law gives cities and incorporated towns authority to regulate cycling on roads, but the law is unclear when it comes to counties. Legislation her office will craft in the coming weeks would add counties to the list of governments that can regulate cyclists and their road use.

Term Limit Extension Causes Internal Controversy

by: Jeffco Pols

Mon Jun 22, 2009 at 12:49:27 PM MST

A ballot measure to extend term limits for Jeffco elected officials (except county commissioners) may be headed for the ballot -- but not without controversy. As The Columbine Courier reports:

An effort by Jeffco District Attorney Scott Storey to extend term limits for his office might be over before the question even goes to voters.

Storey, who began his second term in January, has been trying to get support to extend limits for his and the sheriff's office to three terms, or 12 consecutive years. Current law allows for two consecutive terms, or eight years, for all Jefferson County elected officials.

Storey needs voters' approval to extend term limits, and he could either get on the November ballot by petition, or the question could be placed on the ballot with a majority vote by the county commissioners.

But Commissioner Kevin McCasky is blocking Storey from getting on the commissioners' agenda to ask for a formal vote on the issue, as long as the ballot question pertains only to the district attorney and the sheriff.

"I sit here a frustrated and confused elected official," Storey said at a meeting of the county's elected officials May 14. He detailed his efforts to reach out to all three commissioners to discuss his proposal, and presented a May 10 e-mail he sent to the commissioners formally asking to be on an upcoming agenda for an up or down vote. He said he never got a response from the commissioners.

"I get the message that Commissioner McCasky refuses to allow the district attorney or the sheriff to be on that agenda," Storey said. "I'm obviously a little confused and frustrated by that."

"The feedback that I'm getting is that the only person who wants to be on the ballot is you," McCasky said to Storey. "I believe this is a matter of general governance. Any ballot question is going to include every (elected official)."

McCasky said that although he is the commission's chairman and has "great deference" in setting the agenda, the board rules by majority, implying that a majority of the commissioners didn't want Storey on the agenda.

Storey asked Commissioner Faye Griffin if she voted to keep him off the agenda.

"I did not understand what was going on," Griffin said. "I have no problem putting that on the agenda."

Why the animosity between McCasky and Storey? Because McCasky hasn't been shy about his desire to try to extend his own term limits, since he officially ends his second term in 2012 and doesn't have a higher-profile race that he could successfully run for after that. McCasky is desperate, and if they approve term limit extensions for other elected officials, he can't very well come back to the voters later to ask for commissioners, too.

At the May 14 meeting, McCasky told Storey that extending term limits is a question bigger than any individual.

"This isn't about you, and it isn't about (Sheriff) Ted Mink," McCasky said. "We all ran knowing we had term limits. If term limit extension is appropriate for one elected official, it's appropriate for all."...

...After the meeting, McCasky said voters should be able to decide about extending term limits in "one fell swoop" for all elected officials, and that he's not backing down from his position. He said he'd support a ballot question that has three questions on extending term limits: one for the district attorney, one for the commissioners, and one for the rest of the elected officials. As of right now, many of the elected officials don't want their offices listed on a ballot question to extend term limits, McCasky said.

Colorado voters established term limits for all local elected offices by approving Amendment 17 in 1994. Since then, 53 counties have successfully removed or extended term limits for one or more offices, according to Colorado Counties Inc., a lobbying group. All term limits remain in place for Jeffco officials.

Efforts Continue to Raise Developer Fees

by: Jeffco Pols

Mon Jun 22, 2009 at 12:43:21 PM MST

A plan to increase Jeffco's development fees is moving forward after a June 9 hearing that highlighted county leaders' different philosophies on who should be paying development-related costs.

Tim Carl, the county's development and transportation director, has been trying since March to persuade the county commissioners to raise the fees. He has said the county's development-related fees rank 13th out of 15 metro area counties and cities, and that his department is spending more money on development than it brings in. Without any change, county taxpayers would have been paying $2.2 million annually in costs related to development. Taxpayers already pay $1.7 million.[Pols emphasis]

But starting July 1, fees will increase 9 percent for developers, and then between 2 and 3 percent annually until 2014. Fees will then jump another 6 percent, for a total increase of 25 percent by 2015.

County residents will still bear 75 percent of development-related costs, but it marks a change from the current rate structure, which leaves taxpayers paying about 85 percent.

"County fees have remained relatively low," Carl said at a June 9 public hearing.

"I do believe general government activity is to be funded by general government revenue," Commissioner Kevin McCasky said June 9. McCasky has been the most vocal opponent of raising fees, citing bad economic timing and the fact that because the county requires developers to adhere to guidelines, the county should pay for enforcement. McCasky voted in favor of the fee hike June 9.

Commissioner Kathy Hartman said her yes vote on the proposal doesn't mean she's OK with taxpayers funding development.

"I'm going to vote yes because I think 25 percent is an improvement over 7 percent," Hartman said June 9. "But I don't feel 25 percent is adequate." She said that when the economy improves, the county should further raise fees on development to get more of the burden off taxpayers. "(The taxpayers' 75 percent burden) is inappropriate, but it's better than where we are today."...

...Carl and his staff have been trying to get the fee increases approved since March, when the original plan to hike fees was presented to the commissioners. The original plan called for raising fees an average of 25 percent per year through 2011, after which fees would be frozen for three years. In 2014, the fees would then be set according to the consumer price index.

Carl said the county subsidizes the vast majority of costs associated with development. A few examples: The current cost for a preliminary residential plat under the county's subdivision guidelines is $300. Carl originally wanted to boost that fee to $400 in 2009, $600 in 2010 and $1,200 in 2011. Carl said the county's actual cost, in terms of staff salary and benefits, is $3,301.

Wow. Just...wow. Jefferson County ranks 13th out of 15 Metro Counties in the amount of fees that the public is forced to pay for private development (Denver, for example, makes developers pay 100% of the fees), but the developer-controlled Commissioner McCasky won't back down.  

Denver Post: Turn off the Jeffco Cash Spigot

by: Jeffco Pols

Tue Apr 14, 2009 at 10:37:49 AM MST

A pool of bonus money without strict rules on how to award it sounds to us like a slush fund. Jeffco ought to take a cue from Denver, which awards bonuses and merit pay for initiatives with specific and measurable goals - projects the mayor approves ahead of time.

Jeffco officials say they use the term "bonus pay" as a catch-all. It could include compensation for taking on additional duties or a one- time lump sum. Nomenclature aside, as we mentioned before, this country has been in a recession since December 2007. No matter what you call such adjustments, they're tough to justify in this environment.

And the county has been aware of issues with the bonus pay system. In 2005, Jeffco hired a firm to do a compensation study - a task the company failed to complete. For the record, the county did not pay the firm a dime. Another firm was hired, and a new study is in under way.

At the end of 2006, then-treasurer Paschall allegedly offered a $25,000 bonus to a top aide with the promise that she split the post-tax proceeds with him. Two juries deadlocked on a charge of compensation for past official behavior and prosecutors declined to try Paschall a third time. At the time, officials said they were considering bonus policy changes.

We hope the county follows through this time and puts into place a unified and justifiable system. In the meantime, it might help if officials turned off the cash spigot.

Jeffco Taxpayers Take Brunt of Development Fees

by: Jeffco Pols

Mon Mar 23, 2009 at 10:23:52 AM MST

Even as developers in Jefferson County raked in millions during the just-ended building boom, taxpayers were picking up most of the tab for their permitting, zoning and processing fees - and they still are.

The county charges the lowest overall development fees in the seven metro counties, with residents coughing up $1.6 million last year to make up the difference developers don't pay for processing, zoning and permitting costs, according to the county's development office. At the current rate, projections indicate taxpayers will subsidize the review process with $2.2 million by 2015.

"If I'm a property-tax payer in Jefferson County, I'm paying about 85 percent of those development costs," said Tim Carl, the county's development and transportation director. "There should be an equitable balance that brings the fees more in line with the costs of review and lessens the amount subsidized through the general fund."

The problem is that while a rezoning review, for instance, costs a developer $500 in Jefferson County, the cost to the county in hourly wages and benefits is $2,566, Carl said.

That same review in Denver costs developers much more: $1,000 plus $500 an acre. In Wheat Ridge, developers pay $1,200 plus $125 an acre.

Last year alone, Jefferson county processed 21,818 different development requests, charging fees to developers that in some cases have not risen in 23 years.

In order to remain consistent with other counties, Carl recently proposed an uptick in some fees, which would raise the developers' costs from 15 percent to 32 percent of the county's development expenses by 2011. In 2014, under the proposal, the fees would be adjusted every three years in accordance with the consumer price index.

But the County Commission rejected Carl's initial effort, asking him to try a more incremental approach to increasing fees.

Commissioner Kevin McCasky said he supports raising costs for developers a bit - but not until the economy turns around. He said he is looking for a longer-term proposal that would cap developers' responsibility at about 25 percent, with taxpayers picking up the remaining 75 percent.

"My philosophy is that development review is a general government function and a significant amount of the costs should be borne by the general coffers," he said. "Other jurisdictions might have a different philosophy."