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<br />MAJOR PROBLEMS 41 <br /> <br />The type of planning needed in potential boom town communities goes well <br />beyond the typical land use and capital facility plans most communities <br />are accustomed to developing. Boom town plans will need to consider the <br />whole gamut of social and economic impacts and include detailed year-by- <br />year financial projections for each impacted public entity. Ideally, <br />such an analysis should also include the development of a systematic pro- <br />gram for mitigating potential negative impacts. <br /> <br />The degree of detail and sophistication in financial planning described <br />above is not being carried out in small Colorado communities at the pre- <br />sent time. Nor are there sufficient funds available, or motivation, for <br />communities to engage in such efforts. The cost of preparing a financial <br />analysis and projections for each municipality, county and school district <br />likely to be impacted by energy development does not represent a large sum <br />of money. Yet it would be unfair for local government entities to have to <br />bear the full financial burden required for the preparation of such de- <br />tailed projections. <br /> <br />I <br />~ <br />t <br /> <br />One of the most difficult problems discussed by the Committee is related <br />to the local planning process: "What are the triggering mechanisms that <br />signal a community to move ahead in the implementation of its plans?" For <br />example, when should a school district begin to construct classrooms for <br />the children of oil shale or power plant workers? A school district may <br />be accused of being negligent if it waits until the children have arrived <br />on the scene before commencing construction of classrooms. On the other <br />hand, how far in advance can such facilities be built given the uncertain- <br />ties associated with large scale energy development? The Committee is <br />generally sympathetic with energy companies and their inability to de- <br />velop precise plans for the future, particularly in a case of oil shale. <br />At the same time, the problem is doubly difficult at the community and <br />school district level where often local officials do not have access to <br />adequate information upon which to begin to implement plans and programs <br />aimed at mitigating possible negative impacts caused by rapid population <br />growth. <br /> <br />~ <br /> <br />r <br /> <br />~ <br /> <br />0421 <br />