Government Resources
The following is a list of entities that can provide various useful information, resources and support to homeowners living in a metropolitan district:
| COLORADO DIVISION OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT The Division of Local Government (DLG) is a division within the Colorado’s Department of Local Affairs. The DLG’s purpose is to (1) provide technical assistance and information to special districts, (2) act as a liaison between special districts and other government agencies and (3) advise the governor and general assembly regarding special district issues. The DLG also manages the Local Government Information System (LGIS) – a document archive containing various filings for all special districts. Special districts file a copy of their annual budgets, transparency notices, annual financials, election results and contact information within the LGIS. Regulatory Powers over Special Districts: None Contact Information: Address: 1313 Sherman St, Room 521 | Denver, CO 80203 Phone: (303) 864-7720 Email: dlg.helpdesk@state.co.us Website: Click here |
| COLORADO STATE AUDITOR The Office of the State Auditor (OSA) is an independent government agency created by the Colorado constitution. Among its many responsibilities is overseeing the audits of local government entities conducted by independent audit firms. By July 31st of each year, districts are required to submit its annual audited financial statements to OSA. Regulatory Powers over Special Districts: Minimal. OSA is responsible for ensuring special districts file annual audited financial statements with the OSA. If a district fails to submit annual audited financial statements to OSA, OSA can cause the county treasurer to withhold the property taxes due to the district until such audited financial statements are submitted to OSA. Contact Information: Address: 200 East 14th Ave | Denver, CO 80203-2211 Phone: (303) 866-3338 Email: osa.lg@state.co.us Website: Click here |
| COLORADO SECRETARY OF STATE The Colorado Secretary of State is an elected official and serves the public as set forth in Colorado State Statutes. Although the Secretary of State is responsible for investigating complaints regarding various governmental elections, the Secretary of State does not regulate or investigate special district elections. In fact, special districts are the only form of government in Colorado whose elections are exempt from regulatory oversight. The Colorado Secretary of State also maintains the database containing all conflict of interest disclosures filed by directors serving on special district boards. However, the Colorado Secretary of State does not review such conflict of interest filings or investigate whether such filings are complete or accurate. Regulatory Powers over Special Districts: None Contact Information: Address: 1700 Broadway | Denver, CO 80290 Phone: (303) 894-2200 Website: Click here |
| COUNTY COMMISSIONERS The County Board of Commissioners are elected officials that manage the overall affairs and responsibilities of the county. In relation to special districts, the Board of Commissioners are required to certify special districts’ annual mill levies as approved by the districts’ boards. In addition, Colorado statutes require special district annual property tax assessments be collected through the county treasurer’s department. Regulatory Powers over Special Districts: Minimal. Special districts that fail to certify their mill levies with the county commissioners will not have access to the county treasurer’s property tax collection services (which means such districts cannot assess and collect property taxes from the property owners within the districts). Contact Information: Address: 1150 O Street Greeley, CO 80631 Phone: (970) 400-4000 Website: Click here |
| COUNTY CLERK & RECORDER The County Clerk and Recorder is an elected official of the county and serves the public as set forth in Colorado State Statutes. Through offices situated in various locations throughout the county, the Clerk and Recorder’s Office (1) files maps, (2) handles elections, (3) issues marriage and civil union licenses, (4) prepares and issues motor vehicle titles and plates, (5) records documents—primarily related to real estate and (6) registers voters. When running a ballot election, special districts obtain the registered voter list from the County Clerk & Recorder. In addition, special districts record with the Clerk & Recorder liens against homeowner lots to secure the collection of debts owed by property owners to the District. Regulatory Powers over Special Districts: None Contact Information: Address: 1150 O Street Greeley, CO 80631 Phone: (970) 304-6530 Website: Click here |
| COUNTY ASSESSOR’S OFFICE The County Assessor is an elected official of county and is responsible for discovering, listing and valuing all real and taxable personal property located in the county, pursuant to Article X, Section 3, of the Colorado Constitution and general laws enacted thereunder. The amount of property taxes homeowners pay each year partially dependent on the annual valuation the Assessor’s Office assigns to homeowners’ real property. Each year between May 1st and June 1st, homeowners may contact the County Assessor’s Office and appeal the annual assessed valuation of their property. When developing the annual budget and related mill ley assessment rate, special districts depend on the County Assessor to provide the taxable valuation of all property within the District boundaries. Regulatory Powers over Special Districts: None Contact Information: Address: 1150 O Street Greeley, CO 80631 Phone: (970) 400-3650 Website: Click here |
| DISTRICT ATTORNEY – 17TH JUDICIAL DISTRICT The District Attorney for the 17th Judicial District (which covers Adams County and Broomfield) is an elected official that is responsible for the prosecution of more than 3,700 felony and 34,000 misdemeanor criminal cases each year. The District Attorney’s office is staffed with approximately 65 attorneys and 105 support staff. The mission of the District Attorney’s office is “…to pursue justice through the fair and ethical prosecution of criminal offenders, to seek justice for victims of crimes and to create a safer community through positive partnerships with law enforcement and other community members, and to earn and hold the trust and respect of the citizens that [they] are privileged and honored to serve.” Regulatory Powers over Special Districts: None (However, the District Attorney’s Office can investigate and prosecute special district board members if such board members violate criminal laws.) Contact Information: Address: 915 10th Street Greeley, CO 80631 Phone: (970) 356-4010 Website: Click here |
| SPECIAL DISTRICT ASSOCIATION Created in 1975, the Special District Association (SDA) is a non-profit membership organization that serves the interests of special districts across Colorado. Nearly 1,800 special districts are members of the SDA and over 50% of the membership is comprised of developer-controlled districts whose board members report significant conflicts of interest serving on such district boards. The SDA provides communication, research, legislative input, administrative support and education opportunities for member districts. Regulatory Powers over Special Districts: None. (However, the SDA has the power to appoint all directors that serve on the Colorado Special District Property & Liability Insurance Pool – a government entity which provides property and liability insurance for Colorado special districts – and therefore has power to exclude any special districts from the insurance pool that do no pay membership dues to the SDA.) Contact Information: Address: 225 East 16th Ave | Suite 1000 | Denver, CO 80203 Phone: (303) 863-1733 Email: sdaco@sdaco.org Website: Click here |