Larimer County Proposes $746 Million Budget; Estes Park Seeks Downtown Input

Larimer County has announced its proposed $746 million budget for 2027, featuring $660.2 million in projected revenues and an additional $85.8 million from available fund balances. This financial plan emphasizes maintaining essential county services and critical infrastructure, particularly in light of anticipated declines in property tax revenues, reductions in state and federal funding, and escalating operating costs.

The proposed budget allocates a significant $123.7 million towards capital investments. Key initiatives within this spending include $83 million designated for The Ranch Master Plan, $17.5 million for improvements to roads and bridges, $5.3 million for various natural resources projects, and $14 million for updating vehicles, technology, and essential equipment.

Revenue projections indicate a 2.3% decrease in property tax revenues, which are expected to total $205.2 million. Funding from federal, state, and local partners is also projected to fall by 12% to $90.5 million. It is important to note that the current budget proposal does not account for potential revenue from the 0.3% sales and use tax measure slated for the Nov. 3 ballot. Should voters approve this measure, the county plans to incorporate the additional revenue into its final adopted budget.

A public hearing on the proposed budget is scheduled for Monday, Nov. 9, at 6 p.m. The final adoption of the budget is set for Wednesday, Dec. 9, at 1:30 p.m. Both hearings will take place at the Larimer County Administrative Services Building, located at 200 W. Oak St. in Fort Collins. Residents interested in reviewing the full proposed budget can find it on the county’s website and can submit comments to [email protected].

In Estes Park, the Town and the Estes Chamber of Commerce are actively seeking input from downtown business owners, property owners, operators, and residents regarding priorities for future downtown improvements. This effort builds upon the Downtown Plan, which was adopted in 2018 and outlined two decades of development and infrastructure enhancements.

With several projects from the plan already completed or currently underway, the Town Board aims to gather community feedback on which remaining initiatives should receive priority attention and the pace at which these projects should advance. The ongoing survey also delves into the concept of a potential Downtown Development Authority, an entity that could directly impact downtown businesses and property owners.

The survey is designed to be completed in 10 to 15 minutes and will remain open through Nov. 13. Individuals who own or operate multiple downtown businesses or properties are requested to complete the survey only once. For questions related to the content of the survey, individuals can contact Deputy Town Administrator Jason Damweber. For technical inquiries, Chamber Operations Manager Kiley Schroeder is available.

The Town of Estes Park and the First Peoples Festival, collaborating with Visit Estes Park and the Estes Chamber of Commerce, are hosting a cultural training session titled “We Are Still Here: Building a Welcoming Community for Native Americans.” This program is designed to deepen understanding of Native American history, culture, and contemporary experiences, while also exploring strategies to foster a more welcoming environment for Native residents and visitors within the community.

Presenters for the session include Steven LaPointe of the Sicangu Lakota Nation and Erlidawn Roy, who brings Meskwaki, Anishinaabe, Laguna Pueblo, and Isleta Pueblo heritage. They will guide discussions on various topics, including Native history, Tribal and treaty rights, established cultural traditions, contemporary challenges faced by Native communities, and the importance of cultivating meaningful relationships.

The training session is open to a broad audience, including business owners, community leaders, educators, and residents. It is scheduled for Friday, Oct. 30, at the Estes Park Events Complex. Breakfast and check-in will begin at 8:30 a.m., with the training itself running from 9 a.m. to noon. Admission to this important community event is free.

Estes Park School District residents are invited to meet Superintendent David Grubbs at an informal meet-and-greet session. This event offers parents, residents, and other community members an opportunity to ask questions, engage in discussions about district operations and student success, or simply introduce themselves to the new superintendent. A Spanish translator will be available at the initial session.

The first session is scheduled for Wednesday, Oct. 21, from 1 to 2:30 p.m. in the District Administration Conference Room, located at 1605 Brodie Ave. A subsequent meet-and-greet is planned for Monday, Nov. 16, from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at Poppy’s Pizza and Grill.

Additionally, three more sessions are slated for the new year. These include a session on Jan. 27 at the District Administration Conference Room, another on Feb. 2 at the Estes Park Senior Citizen Center, and a final event on March 25 at Kind Coffee. All scheduled sessions are open to the public, and no RSVP is required to attend.