.jpg)
Resident critical of county’s handling of federal funds I am writing to address a critical failure in Colorado County’s governance that threatens both public safety and our fiscal stability. Our county has allocated over $2.2 million in federal State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds (SLFRF) specifically to bring the county jail into compliance. Yet, the jail remains in violation of federal law—specifically the Prison Rape Elimination Act (PREA).
The necessity of PREA rules is not theoretical. In 2024, Tomas Ramirez was charged with statutory rape, a case that was adjudicated in 2025. Despite this clear alarm bell regarding sexual misconduct within our community’s legal sphere, it is now 2026 and the county jail still has no formal PREA rules in place. This is a staggering dereliction of duty.
While the $2.2 million has been spent or allocated, Colorado County remains under federal audit rules until 2030. Treasury guidelines require that federal funds be used in accordance with federal safety and civil rights laws. By failing to implement PREA, the county is creating a massive “claw back” risk where the U.S. Treasury could demand the repayment of millions in taxpayer dollars.
