Jefferson County taxpayers will soon receive a TABOR refund check in the mail, as required by the state’s Taxpayer’s Bill of Rights Amendment (TABOR).

TABOR requires governments in Colorado to refund revenue collected above the TABOR limit for a given fiscal year or seek voter approval to retain the revenue. In 2022, Jefferson County received approximately $39.4 million in revenue above the TABOR revenue limit. As a result, the county is required to give that money back to the 210,000 property taxpayers in 2023. Learn more about TABOR.

Don't miss your chance to participate in the Coordinated Election this November. The Jefferson County Clerk and Recorder's Office will mail ballots to all registered voters in less than five weeks, so now is the time to verify or update your voter registration. Visit GoVoteColorado.gov to make sure your information is current or to register for the first time. Learn about key dates and election security safeguards.

Beginning Oct. 3, Board of County Commissioner Hearings will start at 9 a.m. The Jefferson County Board of County Commissioners made the decision to move the start time back one hour, after receiving feedback from the community through polling, emails, and open comment. Community input was gathered through polls in the Engage Jeffco newsletter and on Facebook, Nextdoor, and X (Twitter). Of those who responded, 49% supported moving to 9 a.m. and 31% said that the start time didn’t matter. Find hearing information on the Jefferson County Public Meetings page.

Jefferson County seeks your input regarding a change to the JC-73 Roadway Design project in Evergreen. The plan, which was presented in April 2023, has been modified. Parts of the project will be on hold while the county focuses on the segment of the project that will provide the greatest community benefit. View the modified plan and take a quick survey by Sept. 28. View an informational video.

Disasters disrupt lives every year, leaving behind lasting effects on both people and property. This National Preparedness Month, Jefferson County Public Health (JCPH) wants to remind Jeffco community members, especially older adults, about the importance of preparing for disasters and emergencies that could happen at any time. Learn more by reading JCPH’s full news release.

Join Jeffco Open Space and our partners Adams County, City of Arvada, City of Golden, and City of Wheat Ridge for our biggest volunteer event of the year, National Public Lands Day. On Saturday, Sept. 23, from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m., we will be cleaning 19.5 miles of the Clear Creek watershed. All ages are welcome. After the cleanup, we will celebrate at Anderson Park in Wheat Ridge with food trucks, live music, and a raffle. Register to participate!

On Oct. 5, Archway Communities is set to open Robinson Place in Lakewood, a new affordable housing community for residents ages 62 and older. The building will house 67 units, and Jefferson County contributed more than $920,000 to the project. Jefferson County Commissioner Andy Kerr will be speaking at the Grand Opening event on Oct. 5.

Jefferson County Public Library (JCPL) recently introduced a new program to encourage reading among school-aged children. The new program, 500 Books Before Middle School, builds on the success of JCPL’s 1,000 Books Before Kindergarten program. Students ranging between kindergarten and fifth grade can register for the reading program that was launched this month.

Participate in Green School with the Master Gardeners and earn your Colorado Gardening Certificate. No volunteer hours are required. Green School covers topics such as addressing Colorado gardening challenges, integrated pest management, trees, turf, diagnostics, and more. Register by Oct. 25.

For every dollar you contribute to the Anti-Event Fundraiser, Metro West Housing Solutions has generously pledged to match it, up to a total of $2,500. Every donation will provide essential resources, support, and opportunities to families in Jeffco Prosperity Partners. Donate online or mail a check to 900 Jefferson County Parkway, Suite 370, Golden, Colorado 80401. Email Roxy for more information.

Quick links to Commissioner Information:

MyFriendBen is a quick screener for users to view all the benefits and programs they may be eligible for to achieve prosperity. MyFriendBen will give an estimate of how much you may be able to receive in public benefits. It can be found in many places on Jeffco Human Services website.

Nearly 40% of the food produced in America is lost or wasted, costing the United States $218 Billion dollars every year. Individual households are the largest contributors to the food waste problem, wasting about 76 billion pounds of food every year. Limit your food waste by planning ahead for weekly meals, storing your food properly, creating an “eat me first” section of your fridge/pantry, and re-imagining your leftovers into a new meal. Learn more and find other sustainability tips.

Bull Thistle invades native grasslands and rangelands, reducing the forage that wildlife and livestock depend on. Plants can grow to 7 feet tall but are usually 3-to-4 feet tall.

Herbicide is most effective in the fall at the rosette stage or in the spring through the early bolt stage. Treating older plants is not effective because once the flowers form, seeds will still be viable. Control this time of year is limited to removal. Flowers need to be cut, bagged, and put in the trash. Learn more about Bull Thistle.

Did you know the Jefferson County Treasurer's Office publishes regular financial reports? Visit the Financial Reports webpage to view the Quarterly Investment Portfolio Report, General Fund Monthly Report, Treasurer's Report, and Miscellaneous Reports.

If you have questions about any of these reports, please email the Treasurer's Office.

Got apples? Come celebrate all things apple at Lakewood’s Cider Days Festival on Oct. 7-8. Tickets are available now. Receive a coupon for $1 off hot or cold cider when you bike to the event. If you just want to turn your apples into cider, reserve a time slot on Oct 21 to use our apple presses (search "Cider Press") to make a reservation. It’s all part of the fall fun in Lakewood.

Additional funding is now available to construct permanent improvements at the south end of the Wadsworth corridor, focused on the 38th Avenue intersection in Wheat Ridge. Stay informed of the Wadsworth Improvement Project on What's Up Wheat Ridge.

Join Jeffco Transition Services students Mondays through Thursdays, from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m., as they welcome you back to the Ed Center’s Rise Up Cafe. Stop by and grab your favorite warm beverage and meet some of our awesome Transition Services students!

Do you live, work, or play in Arvada? Connecting Arvada will develop a plan for the future of transportation in Arvada. Public feedback is a critical part of the process. Learn more and share your feedback.

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Enjoy an art filled evening to support the work of CASA of Jefferson & Gilpin Counties. Tickets are on sale now for our biggest night of the year, “A Night Out with CASA”. Join us on Friday, Oct. 6, for an evening of entertainment and giving. The Arvada Center is opening its art gallery for our guests to have a private viewing, and live music will be filling the banquet hall. Purchase your tickets here.

Do you know how many parks Lakewood has? Find out by answering the September trivia question on the Your Money at Work webpage. While there, check out the monthly photo contest (and past winners) and enter to win prizes by submitting a photo for September’s contest. Your Money at Work updates residents on the ways Lakewood pays for parks, open space, and trails, so find out how the city funds the great outdoors.

Join Jefferson Center for the Helping Kids Thrive Parent Conference. Helping Kids Thrive will be held at 5 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 5, at Creighton Middle School in Lakewood. Register today for this free parent and caregiver conference to learn tips and tricks for raising kids and teens that thrive.

Apex Park and Recreation District is partnering with Jeffco Public Schools to use Fitzmorris Elementary School as a hub for youth enrichment classes, Camp Fitz, pickleball, and more. We are excited to offer this new amenity to the Apex community and be a new place to gather socially, physically, and emotionally. Join us at Fitzmorris Elementary School this fall. For more information, contact Kelli.

Foothills Park & Recreation District will host its Active Adult Open House on Oct. 6, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Peak Community & Wellness Center. This half-day event connects businesses and organizations that provide valuable resources, products, and services to our patrons. Fitness testing and free lunch provided, thanks to our event sponsors. Registration is required for the free lunch. Those not joining us for lunch can stop by any time during event hours.

Tickets for the 2023-2024 Lakewood Cultural Center Presents series are now on sale. The new season brings a thrilling and unexpected offering of music and theater to Lakewood. Watch the Villalobos Brothers perform on Oct. 14, the Delbert Anderson Quartet perform on Nov. 4, or get ready for the holidays with one of three new productions. Dine before the show with one of our restaurant partners at Belmar, Downtown Lakewood, for special dining deals.

On July 25, Golden City Council voted to end the sale of flavored tobacco products within the city, effective Jan. 1, 2024. This policy aims to prevent youth from starting tobacco use, reduce tobacco-related health disparities, and support people who want to quit by reducing access to flavored tobacco products. If you or someone you know is interested in quitting tobacco, including quitting vaping, visit www.QuitYourWayCO.org or www.MyLifeMyQuit.org for youth-specific support.

Join Wheat Ridge Parks & Recreation on Sunday, Oct. 29, from 4-6 p.m. for Trunk-or-Treat. Participants decorate their cars and trucks with creative disguises to delight kids and distribute candy to celebrate Halloween. Trick-or-treaters are invited to vote for their favorite trunks, and a prize will be awarded to the winner.