For the state government to function effectively, it must work hand-in-hand with local government partners. City, town, county, and special district elected officials all have the benefit of being closest to their communities and knowing their residents’ issues and needs best. As governor, I will always listen to local communities’ needs and concerns. And I will be a responsive partner for them.
The principles that will guide my and all state work with local governments will be to listen, partner, and collaborate.
Collaboration and Partnership
As part of my commitment on how the state will work with our local partners, on my first day in office, I will sign an executive order requiring that state government agencies always interact collaboratively and constructively with local government leaders, seek their input, and have meaningful dialogues before taking actions. This executive order will be a commitment to partnership between state and local governments—and it will be a standard that will apply to all state departments, agencies, and the Governor’s Office.
As attorney general, this is the approach I took when it came to investing the almost $900 million in opioid settlement funds recovered from those that fueled the opioid epidemic. Partnering with local government elected officials, I worked hand-in-hand with local partners to develop a first-in-class framework to spend the opioid settlement funds. This outcome—recognized by John Oliver and the Johns Hopkins School of Public Health as a model for other states to follow—was reached through a bottom-up approach and a commitment to transparency and cooperation to invest these critical dollars to help the state recover from the opioid epidemic. That approach—one of dialogue, listening, partnership, and collaboration—is what I will always take in the Governor’s Office. And I will require the same by all state agencies.
Supporting Local Government Needs and Helping with Local Fiscal Challenges
The state should marshal its efforts to ensure Colorado receives its fair share of federal funds from what our citizens pay in federal taxes. Unfortunately, many local governments with smaller budgets and staff sizes are unable to pursue federal funding opportunities simply due to their constrained resources and smaller staff. As governor, I will expand the mission of the Colorado Office of Federal Funds and Strategic Initiatives to support and assist local governments in identifying federal funds and pursuing those opportunities to support local needs.
Equally important to supporting local governments in leveraging federal resources is preventing state-imposed unfunded mandates. For state laws to be implemented by local governments, the state should not impose new costs at the local level without providing sufficient funds for them to meet any new obligations and responsibilities. As governor, I will honor the state’s legal obligation to not impose unfunded mandates on local governments. And I will have this principle front of mind when legislation is delivered to the Governor’s Office to be signed into law.
Community Development
As governor, I will support and sign legislation that helps local governments provide the critical services they need for their communities. This includes community investments like public safety resources and training; funding for safe, walkable streets so kids can get to school safely; reduced congestion and local transit options so people can get to work on time; and revitalizing downtown areas to attract businesses and employees to return to and enjoy their city centers and restaurants
The state can and should play a role in supporting local governments’ efforts to build livable communities that serve their residents. As governor, I will support legislation that advances these principles. And I will champion smart-growth policies—ensuring that our communities have the tools and resources to grow and change to support their residents and neighborhoods while keeping the Colorado we love.
I will also partner with local governments on policies to support teachers, first responders, police, and firefighters—professionals that are core to their communities. As part of that commitment, I will push and support meaningful policies to allow these professionals to be able to live in the communities they serve. I will also work to use the resources of the state to help build a talent pipeline for these crucial positions through our ColoradoCorps.