This commentary is by Judy Amabile, a Colorado state senator representing District 18, which includes Boulder, Louisville, Superior, Gunbarrel and Niwot.
A small group of Boulder County residents began meeting a year and a half ago to talk about a simple question: Are three commissioners still the right number to represent a county of more than 330,000 people?
We met with community leaders and individuals across the county and listened to all ideas and concerns. Again and again, we heard that the three-member structure has become dysfunctional — concentrating too much responsibility in three seats and making it harder to build consensus, represent the county’s diverse communities and address complex issues strategically.
People want a county government that represents all communities, large and small, and has the capacity to govern more strategically on important issues, like public safety, agriculture, land use, criminal justice, transit and trails.
So, as soon as we were allowed to begin the citizen-initiative process, we started gathering signatures. That effort ultimately put Question 200 on November’s ballot. It asks whether we should expand the Board of County Commissioners from three members to five.
I believe we should.
Today, just three commissioners decide how to spend a county budget of roughly $750 million. All three commissioners are elected countywide, even though they live in separate districts. That structure deserves an update.
Five commissioners would mean more voices at the table and more capacity to listen to communities across Boulder County, from the mountains to the plains, from Longmont to Lafayette, and from our cities to rural areas.
If Question 200 passes, voters will also decide how the five commissioners are elected. One option would create five district-based commissioners; the other would have three district-based commissioners and two elected countywide. Colorado law governing county commissioner districts establishes a framework for redistricting that is based in part on the federal Voting Rights Act.
We should welcome that modernization.
There is a legitimate question about cost. The Boulder County commissioners currently earn $151,000 per year. Including benefits, the total cost of adding two commissioners would be less than $400,000. Compared with Boulder County’s annual budget of $750 million, that incremental cost is very small. That’s why so many counties in Colorado have moved to a five-commissioner system, ensuring better representation and better decision-making. They have decided that it’s worth the investment. So should we.
I also want to be transparent about how we got Question 200 onto the ballot.
After our small but mighty team of volunteers worked for months to gather the required signatures, we realized we would not reach the 13,000-signature threshold. We had done a tremendous amount of work and made substantial progress, but 13,000 signatures is a huge number. So we asked for help.
We approached Courageous Colorado and the Thiry-O’Leary Foundation, two respected organizations that support democracy and voting access. Both stepped up with financial support that helped us finish the petition drive.
It is inaccurate to suggest that these organizations were somehow behind this measure. The measure was driven by volunteers who gave their time, energy and resources to get it on the ballot. We asked for help when we needed it, and we were fortunate to receive it. Now the voters will decide.
The question before voters is straightforward: Should a county of more than 330,000 people have three elected commissioners or five?
Boulder County has grown. Our communities have become more diverse and our challenges more complex. Vote yes on Question 200. It’s time to modernize Boulder County government.
