SB 23-057

Senate Bill 23-057 changes how certain water and infrastructure districts in Colorado are managed by removing the role of county treasurers as automatic district treasurers. Instead, these new district treasurers will be appointed by each district’s board of directors. The bill also updates how fees for collecting assessments from these districts are calculated, setting a 0.25% fee starting January 1, 2026. This change affects county and district treasurers as well as the boards overseeing irrigation and internal improvement districts. Since it has been signed by the governor and takes effect on January 1, 2024, these changes will be implemented soon after the new year begins.

Official Summary

County treasurers have been ex officio district treasurers for drainage districts, irrigation districts, and internal improvement districts that provide services related to drainage and ditches (collectively, district). The act removes the duty of the county treasurer to be the ex officio district treasurer and requires district treasurers to be appointed by the board of directors of the district. The act also clarifies that the former duties of the county treasurer as the ex officio district treasurer are now solely duties of the district treasurer. Additionally, the act clarifies that irrigation district assessments and internal improvement district assessments are distributed in alignment with current law for the distribution of assessments collected by county treasurers and updates the amount of fees a county treasurer can charge and receive for collecting drainage and irrigation district assessments to 0.25% upon all money collected by the county treasurer for assessments beginning on and after January 1, 2026. APPROVED by Governor April 3, 2023 EFFECTIVE January 1, 2024 NOTE: This act was passed without a safety clause. (Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.)

Votes