County commissioners in Colorado vowed to turn over control of their welfare programs to the state if Gov. Bill Ritter goes ahead with a threat to take over county programs that refuse to pay more for services, the Associated Press reports.

Weld County commissioner Barbara Kirkmeyer told a legislative hearing on child welfare Friday that county officials were blindsided by a proposal from Ritter to take over county programs that fail to pay 20 percent more for programs. Kirkmeyer said counties can`t afford it and they`ll be forced to give up programs that are working.