FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE   Aug. 5, 2014   Contact: Gabi Boerkircher, Communications Specialist, 303-441-3399

Commissioners Announce Expected Gap in Flood Recovery Funding

Reimbursement for project costs will not cover all recovery expenses

Boulder County, Colo. – As Boulder County has finalized identifying flood recovery projects with state and federal partners and the full costs of flood recovery have become clearer, the Board of County Commissioners has completed its total estimates of flood-related costs, reimbursements and projections.

From September 2013 through July 2014 Boulder County has spent $40 million in flood response and recovery efforts. The county expects that by the end of 2014 the county will spend a total of nearly $80 million on flood-related projects. It is planned that over the next 5 years, approximately $217 million will be spent on recovery, with the vast majority being spent on major repairs to public infrastructure.

A small sample of the projects that have been completed, are underway, or will begin in the near future include:

• Immediate flood response including search and rescue of more than 800 people during  the flood event;
• Rental assistance and other immediate emergency assistance for residents whose homes were damaged or destroyed in the 2013 Flood;
• Completion of temporary repairs to mountain roads, including James Canyon, Fourmile Canyon, Lefthand Canyon and Longmont Dam Road, in order to safely connect mountain residents to the rest of Boulder County;
• Permanent repair of the more than 150 miles of public roads damaged and destroyed in the flood, many of which are currently in design and slated for 2015 construction;
• Repair or replacement of major bridges and culverts, including those on Flagstaff Road, 83rd Street over the Little Thompson, Valmont Road over South Boulder Creek, 61st/63rd Streets over St. Vrain Creek and on Wagon Wheel Gap;
• Stream restoration work where riparian areas and wildlife habitat have been destroyed;
• To prevent future flood damage to homes and property along the St. Vrain River, including in the City of Longmont, temporary repairs to breaches have been completed and plans for permanent repairs are being developed; and
• Removal of more than 35,000 cubic yards of debris from the creeks in order to avoid major flooding during spring runoff and summer rains was completed in May.

Much of the flood recovery work will be eligible for reimbursement by either federal or state partners, but not all of it. Over the next five years, Boulder County expects a $56 million shortfall between the amount spent on flood recovery and the amount received in reimbursement. This shortfall will need to be paid for through county resources. A portion of this funding gap will be paid with money from the General Fund; however, there is not enough fund balance to cover the total shortfall.

The county began 2014 with $60 million in its General Fund fund balance. Within that balance is approximately $30 million which cannot be spent in order to maintain compliance with nationally recognized standards established for annual fund balances. This year, the remaining fund balance will be spent primarily on flood recovery projects. It is important to note that flood recovery projects are paid in full by the county up front and reimbursed later, therefore the county must plan for $217 million in expenses over the next 5 years, not just the $56 million gap.

In order to rebuild and help get our community get back on its feet, additional funds will be needed to complete essential flood recovery efforts and to retain the ability to respond to future disasters.

Sheriff Joe Pelle stated, “Our ability to manage a major event is dependent on using reserve funds.” The sheriff noted that quick, efficient response to fires, floods and other public safety issues generally requires immediate funding.

“In order to cover the necessary cost of rehabilitation, recovery and resiliency in our communities, Boulder County will need to rely on the public’s help,” said Commissioner Elise Jones. “County staff is currently exploring funding options as we navigate this post-disaster landscape. To secure a prosperous future for the county and assure the success and wellbeing of our residents, it is imperative that we move forward quickly with recovery and rebuilding efforts that will leave us an even stronger, more resilient community.”

On Aug. 12, at 2 p.m., the Commissioners will be holding a public hearing to finalize ballot issues for the November 2014 election. At a business meeting Aug. 5, they directed staff to prepare a Ballot Title for a sales tax issue that will provide revenues to cover the majority of the $56 million shortfall over a timeframe consistent with the flood recovery work being undertaken by the county.

–BoulderCounty.org–