Adams County Board of County Commissioners

The Adams County Board of County Commissioners acts as the primary executive and legislative body for Adams County, Colorado ^[1]. This five-member board manages county operations under authority granted by the Colorado Revised Statutes, specifically Titles 29 and 30 ^[1]. The commissioners oversee 12 departments and appoint the county manager to handle daily administrative tasks ^[1]. Their legal mandate includes levying taxes, adopting an annual budget, and managing county-owned property like the Colorado Air and Space Port ^[1]. The board represents approximately 540,000 residents in the state’s fifth-largest county ^[2]. For the 2026 fiscal year, the board manages a total budget of $876,553,642 ^[3].

Historical Background

Adams County was established on November 15, 1902, after the Colorado General Assembly voted to divide the original Arapahoe County ^[4]. The county was named in honor of Alva Adams, who served as the Governor of Colorado when the county formed ^[4]. Voters designated Brighton as the permanent county seat in 1904 following the destruction of the original courthouse by fire ^[5]. Major structural changes occurred in 1989 when the county ceded 53 square miles to Denver for the construction of Denver International Airport ^[4]. In 2011, the board implemented sweeping ethics reforms and hired an internal auditor after a paving company scandal cost taxpayers nearly $2 million ^[6].

Current Events

On January 6, 2026, the board elected Commissioner Julie Duran Mullica as chair and Commissioner Kathy Henson as vice chair for the year ^[7]. The commissioners began the year implementing an $876.5 million budget, which represents a $45 million increase over the previous year ^[3]. This 2026 spending plan allocates $236.3 million to public safety and $191.5 million to infrastructure and transportation projects ^[8]. However, the board warned constituents of potential revenue shortfalls starting in 2027 due to state-imposed property tax caps under House Bill 24B-1001 ^[8]. As of March 15, 2026, the county continues to monitor legal developments involving local metropolitan districts that may impact resident property tax bills ^[9].