Highlands Ranch – The decision on consolidating the leadership of Colorado’s largest unincorporated community has drawn more than seven times more ballots than the previous local election.
Mail-in ballots are being counted today and Wednesday to determine whether Highlands Ranch will collapse four governing boards into one.
Already, more than 5,500 ballots have been received from approximately 47,000 registered voters. In the 2004 election, 755 votes were cast for local races.
Some residents see consolidation as a natural progression of growth for the 22,000-acre community, as voters decide whether it will operate as a large subdivision or more like a city of 86,000.
“We’re not a bunch of neighborhoods anymore,” said James Jones, a 10-year resident. “If we’re a big boy, we need to operate like one.”
The proposal would establish a single seven-member governing board and dissolve the independent metro districts that oversee the four developed areas of the community. Each district has five board members.
If approved, the new government would have seven elected residents instead of 20. Each official would represent about 12,500 residents instead of 4,300 under the current system.
That’s less representation, critics say.
“It’s simple math,” said Steve Taraborelli, who with eight others make up Citizens for Representation, a group that opposes consolidation.
Combining the four districts means some would help repay debt that belongs to other districts, Taraborelli said. The move also would give some districts an out from the Taxpayers’ Bill of Rights, or TABOR, allowing the board to keep tax revenue it would otherwise have to return to taxpayers.
Proponents maintain that a single board would simplify governing and save money.
“When I talk to people, most of them say this makes sense,” said Nancy Jensen, a board member in District 2.
The current system is too confusing, she added. “People don’t know which district they live in. They don’t know who their board members are.”
If consolidation passes, the four metro districts would appoint the new board from their ranks, once district boundaries are redrawn.
The seven board members would serve until the next regular election in 2008.
Currently, the metro district boards manage their designated areas, maintaining major roads and landscaping, as well as parks, open space and outdoor recreation.
The metro district boards, collectively, oversee the community’s $14.6 million annual budget.
Those duties won’t change for the single board, but consolidation is expected to save up to $60,000 in administrative costs.
While more residents are voting in this election, many at Highlands Ranch Town Center Saturday knew little about it. Those with an opinion were divided between favoring less government and being skeptical about the motives behind it.
“There’s no free lunch,” said Andy Miller. “There’s something in it for somebody.”
Last week, resident Judith Purcell said she had too many unanswered questions to support consolidation. “I’m simply a confused resident, along with tens of thousands of others, I imagine,” she said.
She wonders if Shea Homes would gain a stronger bargaining position, if the plan passes.
While residents control four boards, Shea employees sit on a fifth district board that represents undeveloped property.
The Shea board would remain unchanged, continuing to weigh in only on new facilities.
“Our position is very neutral, because there is nothing either for or against us in” consolidation, said Jeffrey Kappes, chairman of the Shea district.
Staff writer Joey Bunch can be reached at 303-820-1174 or jbunch@denverpost.com.
