Political Sheet

Sheriffs Slam Polis Over Prison Transfer Chaos

Written by Scott K. James

17 Colorado sheriffs just put Governor Polis on blast for sticking counties with the prison tab. While he plays budget magician, we’re left holding the empty wallet.

Polis strikes again—this time playing budget Houdini while 17 Colorado sheriffs are stuck with his mess. The article from KDVR reports that sheriffs, including Weld County’s own Steve Reams, are demanding action from the state over delayed inmate transfers clogging up county jails. The backlog is more than a bureaucratic headache—it’s a financial gut-punch to local taxpayers.

The Bullet Point Brief

  • Polis balances his books like a drunk accountant: by dumping costs onto counties.
  • Sheriffs across Colorado—including our Sheriff Reams—are sounding alarms about overflowing jails thanks to CDOC dragging its feet on inmate transfers.
  • This isn’t just inconvenient; it’s expensive. Counties are bleeding money paying for inmates the state should be managing.
  • Another shining example of an unfunded mandate dressed up as “fiscal responsibility” from our favorite progressive illusionist.
  • Apparently, Polis thinks public safety should be handled via smoke, mirrors, and county IOUs.

My Bottom Line

Once again, Governor Jared “Wizard of Oz Budgeting” Polis waves his magic wand and makes his responsibilities vanish—poof!—right into our county budgets. While he flashes fake fiscal sunshine in Denver, counties like Weld are stuck paying for inmates the state refuses to pick up. Our local sheriffs didn’t sign up to run temp housing for CDOC screw-ups—yet here they are, overcrowded, underfunded, and burning through taxpayer dollars faster than a CU frat house burns through Coors Light.

This isn’t leadership; it’s cowardice wrapped in bureaucracy. It’s easy to act fiscally responsible when you offload your bills onto someone else’s desk… or jail cell. Sheriff Reams and the 16 other sheriffs standing their ground deserve full-throated support because this isn’t just about jail beds—this is about county roads unfixed, services cut back, deputies underpaid—all so Polis can keep pretending he’s governing on a shoestring without showing us who foots the real bill. Enough with the dirty tricks and budget theater. Fund your damn mandates or get out of the way.

About the author

Scott K. James

A 4th generation Northern Colorado native, Scott K. James is a veteran broadcaster, professional communicator, and principled leader. Widely recognized for his thoughtful, common-sense approach to addressing issues that affect families, businesses, and communities, Scott, his wife, Julie, and son, Jack, call Johnstown, Colorado, home. A former mayor of Johnstown, James is a staunch defender of the Constitution and the rule of law, the free market, and the power of the individual. Scott has delighted in a lifetime of public service and continues that service as a Weld County Commissioner representing District 2.