By Sheridan Block and Bill Tiedjesheridan@ouraynews.combill@ouraynews.com Of the nation’s 50 states, Colorado is one of 30 recognized as a Home Rule State, having amended its constitution to grant municipalities the ability to exercise local control of their individual governments.In Article XX of the Colorado Constitution, home rule gives local municipalities the power to make legislation relevant to their areas, exercising control over issues of “local concern” while minimizing state intervention in municipal affairs.Home rule allows for greater flexibility in other areas of municipal government, including local elections, organizational structure and municipal courts. A home rule charter that is specifically crafted and tailored to individual municipalities acts as the city or town’s basic governing document over local issues; however, when a dispute arises, whether an issue constitutes “local concern” must be determined by courts on a case by case basis, and certain sta
By Sheridan Block and Bill Tiedjesheridan@ouraynews.combill@ouraynews.com Of the nation’s 50 states, Colorado is one of 30 recognized as a Home Rule State, having amended its constitution to grant municipalities the ability to exercise local control of their individual governments.In Article XX of the Colorado Constitution, home rule gives local municipalities the power to make legislation relevant to their areas, exercising control over issues of “local concern” while minimizing state intervention in municipal affairs.Home rule allows for greater flexibility in other areas of municipal government, including local elections, organizational structure and municipal courts. A home rule charter that is specifically crafted and tailored to individual municipalities acts as the city or town’s basic governing document over local issues; however, when a dispute arises, whether an issue constitutes “local concern” must be determined by courts on a case by case basis, and certain sta