Pueblo West board rejects county "reverse IGA" and empowers staff to pursue term sheet, ballot options

District manager Christian J. Hyndesch briefed the board on recent talks with Pueblo County about a "reverse IGA" that would have the district resume road maintenance in exchange for historic HUTF dollars and potential ballot changes. Hyndesch said the county-proposed terms would not cover the district's baseline maintenance estimate (which Hyndesch placed near $8 million annually) and recommended the board reject the reverse IGA while pursuing negotiated alternatives.

The board subsequently approved a motion to reject the county's reverse IGA proposal issued Sept. 17. The board also approved a motion to have staff draft a letter to the Board of County Commissioners proposing equitable baseline funding options and potential IGA amendments, and it empowered metro staff to prepare a term sheet outlining funding formulas and possible IGA amendments. Finally, the board directed staff and legal counsel to evaluate resolutions and ballot language to repeal the 6(c) road sales tax and report back by the first board meeting in December for possible referral in May 2027.

Manager Hyndesch outlined three negotiation paths for board consideration: a baseline funding allocation (the presentation used 33% as the district's proposal), a negotiated percentage derived from formula data, or restricting the 1% sales tax to capital projects with county maintenance of routine work. The board voted on those motions by voice and the chair declared the motions passed on the record.