Imagine living in a city where a trip across town could take you through four different counties, each with its own courts, tax systems, election offices, and government rules.
That was the reality for Broomfield prior to November 15, 2001.
Frustrated by the inefficiencies and confusion of being split among Adams, Boulder, Jefferson, and Weld Counties, community leaders began asking a bold question: Could Broomfield become its own county? To find out, the city launched a series of feasibility studies starting in 1995. What began as an ambitious idea evolved into one of the most unique local government transformations in Colorado history, ultimately leading voters in 1998 to approve the creation of the City and County of Broomfield—the state’s first new county in nearly a century.
In the mid-1990s community visionaries and leaders considered the idea of Broomfield becoming its own county. Residents such as Larry and Tryna Cooper, Al Jeffries, Gary Grenier, Clark Griep, Hank Stovall, and Linda Fahrenbruch, among dozens of others. That same year, the City of Broomfield commissioned a preliminary feasibility review to examine whether a consolidated city-county government was practical and financially viable.
The feasibility study focused on advantages and disadvantages. Advantages included things like keeping property taxes lower and improved delivery of courts and human services. Disadvantages considered were the costs of a county transition: building new infrastructure for a jail, county and district courts, and transferring operations and records. Not to mention the time and expense of a statewide campaign for creating Colorado’s 64th county.
An amendment to the Colorado State Constitution was required to create a new county, meaning a statewide vote was required. That core group of residents and others campaigned vigorously, traveling throughout the state asking Coloradans to support a constitutional amendment and on November 3, 1998 it was approved.
“Prior to becoming a county, you had to get your license plates renewed in Lafayette or Brighton, and now all county services, with the notable exception of the coroner, are provided in Broomfield,” explains former Broomfield Mayor Pat Quinn.
Because Broomfield overlapped into four counties, it meant not only needing to travel out of the city for county services, but also meant four different sales tax bases. During the three-year transition to become its own county in 2001, city officials oversaw an expansion of city hall, construction of new facilities including county and district courts and a jail, and the creation of important human services. In fact, some services are specific county (not municipal) functions such as treasurer, clerk and recorder, assessor, and a variety of human service programs.
Broomfield is Colorado’s smallest and newest county and one of only two consolidated city-counties in the state, along with the City and County of Denver.
“Broomfield is a city that runs a county, which means doing business with Broomfield or in Broomfield is streamlined everywhere,” Quinn says.
And because Broomfield continues to be a successful city that runs a county, there is no need to add the cost of county commissioners. With ten councilmembers representing some 80,000+ residents, our community is well-represented and its citizens enjoy important county services without issue.
Fast forward to Thursday night, Nov. 15, 2001 when Broomfield officially became its own county — to that festive gala in the Mamie Doud Eisenhower Library lobby and auditorium. This writer had just been elected to city council. Hundreds of people, from state legislators to grassroots activists, gathered to celebrate Broomfield becoming its own city and county – including remarks from Governor Bill Owens via video. Mr. Cooper brought a bottle of Dom Pérignon vintage champagne to mark the occasion.
As Broomfield recognizes its 25 successful years of being a city and county, perhaps longtime resident Seth Patterson says it best, “Let’s celebrate 25 years of that success and show our appreciation to city leadership who led and completed this effort, as well as later city leadership who have accepted that challenge and sustained a model combined city-county governance structure.”
Bette Erickson is a former city council-woman and Mayor Pro-Tem. She writes about people, places and events. Contact her at bette_erickson@hotmail.com.
Broomfield 2026! Speakers Series presents “The Making of Broomfield County” featuring Larry & Tryna Cooper and Clark Griep, 6:30-8:00 p.m., October 22 at the Broomfield Library, Eisenhower Room, 3 Community Park Rd, Broomfield, CO 80020
