During their regular meeting on November 19, the Poncha Springs Board of Trustees approved the proposed budget for 2025, making significant adjustments following the recent defeat of a local sales tax initiative. The initiative, which aimed to increase revenue for the town, fell short by just 36 votes, prompting a reevaluation of anticipated income.
Town Administrator Lance Hostetter explained that the budget has been revised to reflect a decrease in expected sales tax revenue from approximately $1.1 million to $725,000. “The budget we discussed previously was based on the assumption that the sales tax initiative would pass,” Hostetter noted. “This new version is slightly smaller and adjusts for law enforcement start-up costs.”
In light of these changes, the trustees faced a critical decision regarding their contract with the Chaffee County Sheriff’s Department. The current contract, which costs $74,000 annually and provides a deputy primarily for daytime patrols, has been under scrutiny. Hostetter outlined several options for law enforcement moving forward, emphasizing that if the contract were not renewed, funds could be redirected to hire a part-time code enforcement officer or consult on future initiatives.
Trustee Evalyn Parks expressed her concerns about continuing the contract, stating, “I don’t think we should continue it. I have not seen them actually benefit the town other than we’re paying for it.” Mayor Ben Scanga echoed this sentiment, advocating for reallocating funds towards more effective measures such as traffic cameras and code enforcement.
Despite differing opinions among trustees—Trustee Katie Davis raised concerns about public opinion and potential repercussions with the Sheriff’s Department—Scanga reassured that discontinuing the contract would not compromise public safety. “We will still receive coverage as deputies will continue to pass through town,” he stated.
The approved budget includes provisions for hiring a part-time code enforcement officer and implementing traffic cameras while omitting funding for the Sheriff’s Department contract. This decision reflects a strategic shift towards enhancing local governance and resource allocation.
In addition to budgetary discussions, the trustees received a positive financial audit report from auditor Dmitriy Chernyak, who confirmed that Poncha Springs is on track financially. Town Attorney Gerald Dahl also informed trustees about upcoming legislative changes regarding natural medicine facilities, prompting them to consider drafting an ordinance to regulate their locations within town limits.
With Trustee Michael Coleman absent from the meeting, the remaining trustees unanimously approved the budget and directed Dahl to prepare regulations ahead of new state legislation set to take effect in January.
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