By Helen Walklett
During October, the El Paso Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) heard proposals for the 2025 county budget. The commissioners also voted to appoint Commissioner Carrie Geitner as chair. Current Chair Cami Bremer is preparing to leave for a new role in 2025.
2025 preliminary balanced budget
The county Financial Services Department presented the preliminary balanced budget at the Oct 8 BOCC meeting.
Bret Waters, county administrator, said, “I am pleased to present a conservative budget that emphasizes public safety, roads, and stormwater infrastructure.” He added, “We also submit a responsible budget with healthy financial reserves.” Nikki Simmons, chief financial officer, stated that the budget’s priorities were to ensure a stable financial future for the county.
The $530.8 million budget prioritizes investments in road infrastructure and public safety. It includes a one-time allocation of $12 million into roads for resurfacing, construction, and safety improvement projects. This investment is part of a multi-year plan to address the existing backlog and brings the 2025 road and bridge allocation to $41.3 million.
The proposed budget also includes $4.5 million toward courthouse infrastructure to increase capacity in anticipation of the allocation of additional judges, $4.2 million for a stormwater improvement project, and $1.2 million to public safety departments and offices.
It includes a $8.25 million TABOR refund. If approved, residential property taxpayers will receive an equal share of this refund on their 2025 property tax bill, amounting to about $36 per residential property. The county has also announced a 13.7% reduction in the 2025 property tax mill levy due to TABOR, which will provide tax relief to all property owners.
The budget also proposes maintaining $9.23 million in emergency reserves.
Bremer commented, “We’re in a really great place. In an unsure economic environment, I see a very sure thing in how El Paso County will continue to serve its citizens.”
At two other BOCC hearings in October, county departments and offices set out their critical needs. The public is encouraged to participate in the budget-setting process and may attend and comment at the budget hearings Nov. 5 and Dec. 10 or directly with officials. The BOCC will give its final direction on the budget at the Nov. 5 meeting. The budget is scheduled to be adopted at the Dec. 10 meeting.
The preliminary budget and all supporting documents can be viewed on the county website at https://admin.elpasoco.com/financial-services/budget-finance/county-budget/
Geitner appointed chair
Also at the Oct. 8 meeting, the commissioners voted to appoint Geitner as chair for the remainder of 2024 with immediate effect. Geitner replaces Bremer, who will assume the role of vice chair for the remainder of the year. The leadership change follows Bremer’s announcement that she will transition into her new role as CEO of Pikes Peak United Way in early 2025 and is intended to ensure a smooth transition.
The two will serve in these roles until the Jan. 14, 2025 BOCC meeting, when the commissioners will elect their 2025 leadership.
Planning Commission reappointment
Also in October, the commissioners voted to reappoint Eric Moraes to the county Planning Commission. His second term will run until Oct. 8, 2027.
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The El Paso County Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) usually meets every Tuesday at 9 am at Centennial Hall, 200 S. Cascade Ave., Suite 150, Colo. Springs. Agendas and meetings can be viewed at www.agendasuite.org/iip/elpaso. Information is available at 719-520-643. BOCC land use meetings are normally held the second and fourth Thursdays of the month (as needed) at 1 pm in Centennial Hall.
Helen Walklett can be reached at helenwalklett@ocn.me.
Other EPC Board of County Commissioners articles
- El Paso Board of County Commissioners/Land Use Committee, Jan.8, 13, and 20 – Board, committee act on variety of projects (2/4/2026)
- El Paso County Planning Commission, Board of County Commissioners – Planning Commission recommends JJ Ranch, Gleneagle View, Hidden Creek for approval (12/31/2025)
- Nov. 4 Election (12/4/2025)
- El Paso Board of County Commissioners – Board approves agreement on Highway 105 widening (12/4/2025)
- El Paso County Board of County Commissioners, Oct. 7 – Board approves contract for Fox Run Gazebo (10/30/2025)
- El Paso County Board of County Commissioners, Sept. 2, 9, and 23 – County approves park services (10/2/2025)
- El Paso County Board of County Commissioners, Aug. 5 – Liquor license approved (9/4/2025)
- El Paso County Board of County Commissioners, April 10 – Two local projects approved by the county (5/3/2025)
- El Paso County Board of County Commissioners, March 13 and 18 – Misfits Crew Estates Final Plat approved (4/5/2025)
- El Paso County Board of County Commissioners, Feb. 11 – $4 million in federal funds approved for North Gate Blvd./Struthers Road stormwater project (3/1/2025)