(1) Upon submission to the board of county commissioners of a charter by the charter commission, the board of county commissioners shall call a special election, to be paid for from the special county charter fund and held pursuant to the Colorado election laws. The special election shall be held not more than ninety days nor less than forty-five days after the board of county commissioners receives the proposed charter; however, if a coordinated election or general election is to be held within sixty days after the board of county commissioners receives the proposed charter, the special election shall be held as part of the coordinated election or general election. The board of county commissioners shall publish in a newspaper of general circulation within the county a complete text of the proposed charter not less than ten days prior to the special election. At the special election a referendum of the registered electors of the county shall be held to determine the question of whether the proposed charter as submitted shall be adopted. Notice of the election on the proposed charter shall be published at least thirty days prior to the election.
If a majority of those voting on the question favor the adoption of the charter, thesaid charter shall become effective January 1 of the succeeding year or at such other time as the charter may provide. Such charter, once adopted by the electors, may be amended only by the registered electors of the county.
If a majority of the voters disapprove the proposed charter, the charter commissionmay proceed to prepare a revised proposed charter in the same manner provided for preparation, submission, and election on the proposed charter. The election on any revised proposed charter must be held not less than ninety nor more than one hundred eighty days after the election rejecting the proposed charter. The charter commission shall not submit more than one proposed charter and one revised proposed charter. If a majority of the voters disapprove the proposed charter, or the revised proposed charter, if one is submitted, no new referendum may be held during the next twelve months following the date of the last disapproval.
Upon acceptance or rejection of the proposed charter or the revised proposed charter,if one is submitted by the registered electors of the county, the charter commission shall be dissolved, and all property of the charter commission shall thereupon become the property of the county, and the board of county commissioners shall adopt a resolution to that effect.
Source: L. 71: p. 351, § 1. C.R.S. 1963: § 36-28-5. L. 85: (1), (2), and (4) amended, p. 1345, § 11, effective June 4. L. 2006: (1) amended, p. 2036, § 25, effective June 6.