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EL PASO COUNTY, COLO. -- El Paso County Commissioner Chairman Dennis Hisey presented the 2010 State of the Region Address today, noting a positive outlook for the county.

"Whether it's road projects or partnerships with schools, or an expansion of a waste facility using private funds, you know we've got a lot of things to brag about," said Hisey.

Hisey said the county had lower property and per capita taxes in 2009 than any other large county in the state, saying that El Paso County is moving in the right direction.

He also noted the taxpayers are saving money because many projects being worked on in Colorado Springs are now under El Paso County facilities management rather than city management, and that agreement will expand in 2011. These include several road and building projects that have already begun or have been completed within the past year.

Working together to do more, with less, seems to be the underlying reason for success this year.

"What we're finding is that we can partner with various people so no one person has to find all new funding. We can put a little bit of funding here, or a little bit of work there, and three or four us working together, we can get a big project done," said Hisey.

Hisey said despite low taxes compared with similarly-sized counties, sales, use and property tax still make up nearly half of the county's funding source for 2010. Here are the top three funding sources in 2010:

- Restricted revenue: 44.9%

- Sales & use tax: 25.9%

- Property tax: 19%

Here are the top three expenses from the 2010 General Fund in 2010:

- Sheriff: $44.9 million

- Administrative support: $14.4 million

- Information Technology: $10.4 million

Other wins for El Paso County include leading similarly-sized counties in large-county staffing vs citizens served by serving the most citizens, having the lowest budget on District Attorney caseloads, and decreasing the number of inmates at the criminal justice center in 2009 from 2008.

In Fountain, the district is working to implement two projects to reduce erosion south of the town and to restore a natural wetland and flood control area in northern Pueblo. Crews in both Pueblo and Colorado Springs are part of the team, along with Pueblo County and El Paso County officials.

Hisey also noted community assets such as Rainbow falls, Bear Creek Dog Park and the Pineries Ranch have grown, improved or been added over the past two years.

Hisey admits that everything isn't perfect in El Paso County and that an impending property tax reduction will present challenges. He also adds that the county's unemployment rate and foreclosure rate are still too high.

He says the county has a plan to attract more businesses to the area by providing more employable people, which in turn would lower the unemployment rate.

"We're cooperating with some schools, high schools, so that kids leaving school that won't be going on to college have some career skills, so they are immediately employable," said Hisey.

Despite the challenges that lie ahead Hisey says if people continue to work together El Paso County can accomplish great things.

"I'm pretty please about the outlook for El Paso County in 2011 and beyond," said Hisey.