The NoCo Herald

Larimer and Weld counties, Colorado

Clear, 71° in Weld County at 2:45 PM. Forecast high 69, low 34.

Weld County

Weld County OKs up to $250 million in financing for new Justice Center

·Weld County

From the Weld County Board of County Commissioners meeting of

The emergency ordinance establishes a lease-purchase structure, with annual payments estimated at up to about $22 million and a maximum interest rate of 5.85%. It takes effect immediately and lets the chief financial officer finalize terms within those limits.

Weld County commissioners approved an emergency ordinance Wednesday allowing the county to borrow up to $250 million through certificates of participation to build the new Weld County Justice Center, with lease payments of up to about $22 million a year.

The ordinance sets up a lease-purchase structure for the building. It sets a maximum interest rate of 5.85%, and the maximum annual lease payment is estimated at $22 million, Chief Financial Officer Jackie Trout told the board. Trout said the county hoped to get better terms than those maximums when it priced the financing.

The ordinance cites rapidly increasing interest rates and expected market volatility stemming from the November 2026 midterm elections as grounds for adopting it as an emergency under Section 314 of the Weld County Home Rule Charter. It takes effect immediately following enactment. It also authorizes the financing documents and delegates authority to the chief financial officer to finalize transaction details within the ordinance's maximums, Trout said.

Commissioner Perry Buck said the building was needed to provide more courtrooms, and called the project an unfunded mandate from the state of Colorado. He said certificates of participation were a way to avoid putting county residents at risk from emergencies, state legislative changes or revenue problems. "I just felt that this is the best way to give us some calm," Buck said.

A commissioner who spoke in favor of the financing said several residents told the speaker they did not want the county to use existing funds for the building. The commissioner said financing would keep money available for other facility and infrastructure needs, government operations and emergencies.

Chair Scott James said issuing the certificates fit the board's role as conservative fiscal stewards. "By issuing COPs, we are doing what we were elected to do," James said.

Commissioner Jason Maxey opposed the measure. He said he did not consider the certificates the most fiscally conservative way forward. "I will be a no vote on this because I do not believe this is the most fiscally conservative way forward," Maxey said.

More from this meeting

  1. Weld County Board of County Commissioners, Nov. 4, 2026

    Weld County OKs up to $250 million in financing for new Justice Center, 4-1; Weld commissioners approve $63,277 in carryover for unemployment program; Weld County adds $92,150 to City Hall block demolition contract; 19 consent items adopted.

  2. Item 3, Item 4, Item 5 and Item 6Weld commissioners approve $63,277 in carryover for unemployment program

    The carryover will support services for people receiving benefits in the next program year. The board also approved four workforce contracts covering adult and dislocated workers, youth, Wagner-Peyser and career access programs.

  3. Item 7 and Item 1Weld County adds $92,150 to City Hall block demolition contract

    Patrick O'Neill of the Facilities Department told commissioners that the existing foundations were 16 inches to 24 inches thick, which resulted in additional costs. Change Order 5 also covers additional costs for October stormwater management, site security and fencing, he said.

  4. Item 9, Item 10 and Item 11Weld commissioners approve three agreements to buy land for County Roads 13 and 50 roundabout

    The largest purchase, under Contract ID #11304, is from Massey Farms, LLLP. Public Works is acquiring 2.241 acres of right-of-way and 0.039 acres of temporary construction easement from the landowner, a Public Works staff member told the board.

  5. Item 1Weld commissioners approve partial vacation of Hiner mining and camping permit

    The partial vacation was required because the applicant received approval from the Division of Reclamation and Mining Safety for a technical revision reducing the mining area by about 58.3 acres on July 6, 2022, a staff member from the Department of Planning Services said.