Board of County Commissioners
The Board of County Commissioners acts as the governing body of the county. They are elected at large to four-year terms and enact policies such as the establishment of the property tax rate and the adoption of the budget. They adopt ordinances or local laws that affect citizens living in unincorporated Adams County.
Roles and Responsibilities
The Board of County Commissioners creates and adopts the annual budget for all departments and elected offices in Adams County. They also serve as the Board of Equalization to address property tax protests. The Board appoints residents to advisory committees and boards and represents Adams County on various regional and national authorities. Visit the commissioners’ individual web pages to see the boards and committees they serve on.
Public Hearings
Public Hearings are held in the First Floor Public Hearing Room at the Adams County Government Center, 4430 S Adams County Parkway, Brighton. Meetings can also be viewed on our YouTube Channel.
Public comments can be submitted via the agenda link, available from the time the agenda is posted until 4:30 P.M. the Monday before the hearing.
For questions, contact Clerk to the Board, Erica Hannah.
Public Study Sessions
Public study sessions are information-gathering meetings for the Board of County Commissioners and are open to the public. Study sessions are scheduled on Tuesdays following public hearings and may also be held on Wednesdays depending upon the needs of the county.
Please contact Clerk to the Board, Erica Hannah, with any questions.
Communication Accommodations
Anyone requiring an auxiliary aid, assistive listening equipment, alternative format, or other services for effective communication to participate in a program, service, or activity (meeting) should make the request as soon as possible but no later than 48 hours before the scheduled event. Adams County Government will generally, upon request, provide appropriate aids and services leading to effective communication for qualified persons with disabilities so they can participate equally in its programs, services, and activities. We offer services including qualified sign language interpreters and other ways of making information and communications accessible to people who have speech, hearing, or vision impairments.
To request any additional ADA accommodations, please complete and submit the Auxiliary Aids and Services Request Form no later than 48 hours before the scheduled event. For additional support please email the Adams County ADA/504 Coordinator at ADA504@adcogov.org or call 720.523.6325.
Interpretation or Translation Accommodations
Anyone requiring interpretation or translation services for effective communication to participate in an Adams County program, service, or activity (such as a public meeting) should make the request as soon as possible but no later than seven days before the scheduled event.
For additional support please call 720.523.6195 or email the Adams County Communications Department to request services.
The Role of the County Commissioners
The role of the Adams County Board of Commissioners is to manage the affairs of the county as authorized by the state. Powers granted to the board by the state are broad, which allow the board independence in judgment. Some examples of the board’s powers are to:
- Acquire land for the construction, maintenance and repair of airports and fix and collect fees for their use
- Adopt ordinances as provided in the Colorado Revised Statutes
- Appoint staff and determine operating budget
- Build and maintain county buildings
- Construct or repair public roads, bridges and drainage facilities
- Contract with the Colorado Department of Corrections for placement of inmates in county jail
- Establish policies and procedures for the administration of county government
- Grant licenses as prescribed by law
- Levy taxes as provided by law; certify mill levies annually
- Organize or contract for ambulance service
- Organize the boundaries of precincts and establish voting places in each precinct
- Oversee county income and expenses; adopt annual budget
- Provide programs for aged and low-income residents
Additional Responsibilities
In addition to these statutory general governance responsibilities, the Adams County Board of Commissioners guides the operations of the county manager and the 12 departments and offices in the manager’s span of control. The board also holds public hearings at which official county business is conducted; considers applications for funding from community agencies, county departments and elected officials; represents the people of Adams County on other boards and governing bodies; and establishes personnel policies.
Additional Information
These are just some examples of county activities that require decision making by the board. For more information about statutory responsibilities, check the Colorado Revised Statutes, Title 29 and Title 30, which cover laws concerning local and county governments.
