Romer v. Board of County Commissioners

The majority holds that Weld County’s state-mandated payments of social service costs do not constitute a subsidy because the county has no capacity to subsidize the state. Maj. op. at 782-83. I disagree, and would affirm the trial court’s finding that article X, section 20(9) of the Colorado Constitution applies to the county’s share of social service costs and therefore the county may reduce or end its support of the social services program.

I

The Colorado Social Services Code, sections 26-1-101 to -128, 11B C.R.S. (1989), recently underwent significant restructuring and effective July 1,…