About SDA

History

SDA ... A History of Serving Your Interests
The Special District Association of Colorado (SDA) was created in 1975 to serve the interest of the special district form of local government in Colorado. Special districts were first authorized in 1949 by the General Assembly to provide certain municipal-type services in rural and unincorporated areas. Since then, more than 1000 special districts have been created to provide fire protection and prevention, emergency medical services, drainage, water, sanitation, hospital services, ambulance, roads, and park and recreation services to local areas.

With the creation of special districts, common issues and concerns were soon identified and the Special District Association was organized for better communication, research, education, conferences and workshops, legislative input, and administrative support to Member Districts. The Association exists to help districts serve the public in the most efficient and economical manner possible. Member Districts are united to coordinate their interests and welfare through a cooperative effort, and to help special district officials fulfill their duties and responsibilities.

The Association has become increasingly important as the membership has grown and the operation of special districts has become more complex. It has become an effective lobbying and educational organization that strives to serve the needs of districts. The offices are located close to the State Capitol, which gives SDA convenient access to the many activities of state government and the General Assembly.

SDA represents over 1,000 special districts and has over 170 associate members.

An eleven member Board of directors elected by Member Districts governs the Association, establishes Association policy and provides direction to the SDA staff. A Board Member of the Association must be an elected Board Member of a special district, and not more than two Board Members may be from any one type of district. At least one Director must come from each of five geographical areas of Colorado.

The Association also maintains a full-time staff to manage the day-to-day operations of the Association. Headed by an Executive Director, the SDA staff is responsible for maintaining a quality image for the Association, emphasizing its services, providing programs of value and benefit to its members, and maximizing membership potential. The SDA staff develops training and educational programs for Member Districts, provides technical assistance in a variety of areas, represents special districts before state agencies and the General Assembly, and works with districts to maintain a positive public image and perception for all special districts.

SDA Members Include:
Associate	196		Parks & Recreation	37
Ambulance	5		Pest and Weed Control	5
BID	21		Sanitation	55
Cemetery	3		Soil	11
Fire	123		Water	72
Hospital	14		Water and Sanitation	100
Library	10		Water Conservancy	25
Metropolitan	775		Other	2

The Special District Association of Colorado is in its thirtieth year of operation. Since the beginning of 1992 the Association has been under the management of Executive Director, J. Evan Goulding. Full time staff includes Deputy Director, Donna Alengi; Director of Research & Policy Development, Mary Zuchegno; Program Manager, Andy Pietrzyk; and Membership Coordinator, Georgia Kraemer.

James P. Collins, of the Law Firm Collins Cockrel & Cole, P.C., one of those who was instrumental in the organization of SDA, continues to serve without compensation as Executive Vice President.

Membership in the Association has increased by 10% in the last year. The significant increase in new members reflects:

1. The formation of a significant number of new special districts to accommodate the dramatic growth occurring in the many areas of Colorado;
2. The attractiveness of SDA-provided programs for special districts, including the Special District Property and Liability Pool and the health and benefits program provided through CEBT and the Urman Company;
3. The growing membership among water conservancy, soil conservation and weed and pest control districts. The number of districts by type is as follows:

7:56 AM 6/4/2008

Type of District	2000	May 2008
Fire Districts	81	123
Metropolitan Districts	111	775
Park & Recreation Districts	27	37
Sanitation Districts	51	55
Water Districts	45	72
Water & Sanitation District	71	100
Hospital Districts	9	14
*The following categories were added to SDA since 2000.
Ambulance Districts	0	5
BID	0	21
Cemetery Districts	0	3
Library Districts	0	10
Pest & Weed Control Districts	0	5
Soil Conservancy Districts	0	11
Water Conservancy Districts	0	25
Other	17	2
TOTAL	412	1,258

 

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