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Campbell sounds off on Ritter
  
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By Pat Hill
If Teller County commissioners have anything to do with it, the state of Colorado will not take over the Department of Social Services.
In a tooth-and-nail fight, commissioner Bob Campbell, through Colorado Counties Inc. has taken the battle right to the top.
At issue is Gov. Bill Ritter’s proposal to restructure social-services systems in Colorado’s 64 counties by transferring local autonomy to the state. Ritter’s proposal stems from the deaths of several children who died at the hands of their parents, or relatives, while in the social-services system in Denver.
In a meeting with the governor in Denver this month, Campbell and other representatives of CCI heard what Campbell terms “political doublespeak,” with a promise here and there to reconsider his decision.
“Essentially, his words were that as of now there would no legislation coming out of his office for the 2010 year but they are going to continue to look at it,” Campbell said at the commissioners meeting Nov. 12.
CCI has taken a stand against the proposal, Campbell said, adding that the organization’s representatives intend to pack meeting rooms around the state in a show of force.
“The governor’s proposal has not been thought through, there are no proven benefits to having the state take over the departments of human services,” Campbell said. “My editorial view is that this is a power play by the state. There’s no money to be saved, none of the details are even thought about yet. We’ll continue to fight this battle and make it tough for the state.”
If removing management of the county’s Department of Social Services weren’t enough to incur the wrath of the commissioners, Ritter’s ax also removed grants from the Limited Gaming and Energy-Mineral impact funds to balance the state’s budget.
While nine counties are impacted by gaming, 54 counties are affected by energy and mineral extraction.
“CCI has taken an official stand against it, and we will continue that fight,” Campbell said.
The fight to the finish includes reaching to members of the Joint Budget Committee.
“So far that battle seems to be going pretty positive,” Campbell said. “Most of it is an education process. Some of the folks on the JBC didn’t even know what the funds are expended for.”
Grants from the funds help mitigate the negative effects of gaming and mineral extraction.
On a more positive note, the commissioners signed an intergovernmental agreement with the city of Colorado Springs to extend the route of the Ute Pass Express to Divide. The bus stops at the Divide Park ‘n Ride on Weaverville Road, followed by pick-ups in Woodland Park, Green Mountain Falls, Manitou Springs and downtown Colorado Springs.
In a tooth-and-nail fight, commissioner Bob Campbell, through Colorado Counties Inc. has taken the battle right to the top.
At issue is Gov. Bill Ritter’s proposal to restructure social-services systems in Colorado’s 64 counties by transferring local autonomy to the state. Ritter’s proposal stems from the deaths of several children who died at the hands of their parents, or relatives, while in the social-services system in Denver.
In a meeting with the governor in Denver this month, Campbell and other representatives of CCI heard what Campbell terms “political doublespeak,” with a promise here and there to reconsider his decision.
“Essentially, his words were that as of now there would no legislation coming out of his office for the 2010 year but they are going to continue to look at it,” Campbell said at the commissioners meeting Nov. 12.
CCI has taken a stand against the proposal, Campbell said, adding that the organization’s representatives intend to pack meeting rooms around the state in a show of force.
“The governor’s proposal has not been thought through, there are no proven benefits to having the state take over the departments of human services,” Campbell said. “My editorial view is that this is a power play by the state. There’s no money to be saved, none of the details are even thought about yet. We’ll continue to fight this battle and make it tough for the state.”
If removing management of the county’s Department of Social Services weren’t enough to incur the wrath of the commissioners, Ritter’s ax also removed grants from the Limited Gaming and Energy-Mineral impact funds to balance the state’s budget.
While nine counties are impacted by gaming, 54 counties are affected by energy and mineral extraction.
“CCI has taken an official stand against it, and we will continue that fight,” Campbell said.
The fight to the finish includes reaching to members of the Joint Budget Committee.
“So far that battle seems to be going pretty positive,” Campbell said. “Most of it is an education process. Some of the folks on the JBC didn’t even know what the funds are expended for.”
Grants from the funds help mitigate the negative effects of gaming and mineral extraction.
On a more positive note, the commissioners signed an intergovernmental agreement with the city of Colorado Springs to extend the route of the Ute Pass Express to Divide. The bus stops at the Divide Park ‘n Ride on Weaverville Road, followed by pick-ups in Woodland Park, Green Mountain Falls, Manitou Springs and downtown Colorado Springs.
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