Douglas County Officials Outline 2026 Goals for Safety and Growth

Douglas County officials set a series of priorities for 2026 on Jan. 7, emphasizing crime reduction, economic competitiveness and school district planning for the county south of Denver that is home to more than 400,000 residents. Commissioners, law enforcement, economic development and education leaders said their shared objective is to protect quality of life while preparing for population shifts and regional economic competition.

County commissioners continued to frame Douglas County as among Colorado’s wealthiest and most prosperous jurisdictions and tied that status to investments in public safety and basic services. “For us to continue to be the safest, healthiest and most prosperous means going back to our fundamental motto, which is Douglas County is a place where quality of life comes first,” Commissioner Abe Laydon said, adding that the county will focus on preventing retail theft, providing resources for those in need, investing in public safety and mitigating wildfires. “It should be a very economically positive scenario for our citizens this next year,” Laydon said. “They should feel healthy, wealthy and wise.” Commissioner George Teal said he plans to listen closely to residents and colleagues and to reassess whether recent changes are sufficient. “My top priorities,” Teal said, “is to take a look and ask the question of, okay, we’ve done a couple good things. Is it enough? Should there be more?”

Accountability and tougher prosecutions were central themes for the 23rd Judicial District and the sheriff’s office. JD23, which serves Douglas, Elbert and Lincoln counties, filed more than 10,000 cases in 2025, including 617 domestic violence cases, 115 sex offense cases and 661 DUI cases, according to spokesperson Tom Mustin. District Attorney George Brauchler, reflecting on his first year in the newly organized district, said he will press for stronger conviction results. “My goal is to leverage relationships, resources and experience we have developed in our first year to continue to make this jurisdiction, my home and my family’s home for 30 years, the safest in Colorado,” Brauchler said. Douglas County Sheriff Darren Weekly framed his 2026 priorities around continued crime reduction, accountability and investment in personnel and technology. “In 2026, my focus is on continuing to reduce crime, holding offenders accountable, and ensuring our personnel have the training, staffing, and technology they need to protect this community,” Weekly said.

Economic development officials signaled a push to lower administrative barriers and attract new employers. Ellie Reynolds, chief executive of the Douglas County Economic Development Corporation, said the EDC will form a Red Tape Reduction Commission to study permitting delays and make local government more business friendly. “Our mission at the Douglas County EDC is clear: to build a stronger, more agile economy,” Reynolds said. “Beyond efficiency,” Reynolds said, “we are working to recruit another international primary employer to bring high-quality jobs to our doorstep.” That focus ties local planning to global competition for investment and skilled labor, with potential impacts on housing demand and workforce development.

Education officials said academic performance and facility changes will shape daily life for families. The Douglas County School District, with more than 62,000 students across 92 schools, plans to implement the approved $490 million bond from 2024 with construction and openings of two new elementary schools in RidgeGate and Sterling Ranch this year. DCSD Superintendent Erin Kane said the district will also address uneven enrollment, including closing three elementary schools in Highlands Ranch. “Our New Year’s resolution is to keep the incredible momentum going in 2026 and continue to provide each and every one of our students with the brightest futures possible,” Kane said.

Taken together, the county’s stated priorities underscore a balance between preserving the area’s prosperity and responding to pressures common across Colorado and the Intermountain West: rising demand for skilled jobs, wildfire risk tied to a warming climate, and shifting school populations. For residents, the year ahead will bring visible changes in public safety operations, business permitting and school boundaries that will shape neighborhood life and local services.