Castle Rock – Douglas County commissioners cleared the way Wednesday for Highlands Ranch residents to vote on a new form of government, pending court approval of a referendum to combine four elected governing boards into one.
Highlands Ranch leaders predict they will save tens of thousands of dollars each year in legal fees, insurance and other administrative costs by consolidating the boards that govern different portions of the 22,000-acre subdivision.
“These improved efficiencies cannot be realized without consolidation,” senior county planner Bill Fowler told commissioners before their unanimous approval.
In a separate ballot question approved Wednesday, the subdivision’s 86,000 residents will be asked whether they want to cut property-tax rates by 2.6 percent.
About one-third of Douglas County’s residents live in Highlands Ranch, which is divided into four metro districts that provide most government services – water and sewer, fire protection, street work and recreation, including parks and trails. Each metro district has a five-member governing board elected by residents.
The four boards emerged as Highlands Ranch grew during the past 25 years. Each district managed local government expenses so that longtime residents would not share the burden of new development costs.
Now that the entire subdivision is approaching completion, the need to manage the costs of older versus newer development has diminished greatly, and the community should consolidate the expenses of government, Highlands Ranch general manager Terry Nolan told commissioners.
“It probably will result in lower taxes, and the voters will get the opportunity to decide,” he said of the election, tentatively scheduled for May 2.
If approved, a seven-member board would oversee the entire community.
Growth experts and some Highlands Ranch leaders have predicted that residents could decide to incorporate in less than a decade, thus becoming independent of Douglas County government and transforming the community into a major municipality in the south-metro area because of its population, wealth and its 36 square miles of prime real estate.
While Nolan cautioned that consolidation has nothing to do with the subdivision becoming a city, two of the three county commissioners focused on incorporation.
“I’m a supporter of the ultimate incorporation of Highlands Ranch, so I’m interested in where all this is going,” said Commissioner Steve Boand, as he questioned Nolan.
Commissioner Melanie Worley, however, said she doesn’t support incorporation but strongly favors consolidation.
“We can still provide all the services to our citizens, and in the process cut taxes a little bit (without forming a new city),” said Worley, a longtime resident of Highlands Ranch.
The commissioners lauded the efficiency and maturity of Highlands Ranch as they unanimously approved its consolidation plan.
“Anytime we can reduce government, bring things together a little, make things work a little more smoothly, it’s got to have a positive effect on future tax rolls,” said Commissioner Mike Maxwell.
Staff writer Joey Bunch can be reached at 303-820-1174 or jbunch@denverpost.com.
