WEEK OF MAY 11, 2023
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Property tax reduction plans eyed Commissioner weighs in on proposals from GOP, Polis BY CHANCY J. GATLIN-ANDERSON SPECIAL TO COLORADO COMMUNITY MEDIA
lion to $13 million. “Over the course of thirty-plus years, winter icing has severely deteriorated the sidewalks, curb, gutter, and street along the main drag of downtown Kiowa, along both sides of CO-86, creating extremely unsafe conditions for pedestrians, bikes, and particularly those using mobility devices in those areas,” Boyd wrote in a May 2 email. “This grant would allow the Town to get started on a long overdue, critical project.”
Colorado homeowners have seen increasing property taxes over the years, and the Notice of Valuation forms that recently arrived in mailboxes came as a shock to many, reflecting the peak of property values that was hit on June 30 of last year. The increases are causing many homeowners to be concerned about their financial futures. State lawmakers and local leaders have been working to devise plans for taxpayer relief in the face of growing property-tax bills. Two 2023 state Senate bills were introduced that would offer relief to homeowners in the form of reduced property taxes. SB23-303 was introduced on May 1, while SB23-108 was introduced earlier in the year on Jan. 31. Below are summaries of both Senate bills accompanied by comments from Elbert County Commissioner Christopher Richardson. The outcome of both measures will need to be decided by the adjournment of the Colorado General Assembly on May 8, which is after the Elbert County News press deadline. Go online to elbertcountynews.net for updates on what became of the bills.
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Kiowa Town Hall at 404 Comanche St.
PHOTO BY CHANCY J. GATLIN-ANDERSON
Kiowa seeks improvement grants
$25,000 grants through the in funding for the engineering and Town requests millions two Colorado Department of Local Afdesign portion of the drainage and fairs, one to carry out a rate study project. The total project in funding for revitalization for the Kiowa Water and Wastewater sidewalks is estimated to cost about $12 milBY CHANCY J. GATLIN-ANDERSON SPECIAL TO COLORADO COMMUNITY MEDIA
The Town of Kiowa has applied for several multi-million-dollar grants to help fund improvements throughout the area. These include the Drainage and Sidewalks Project to revitalize the town’s walkability and the Water Redundancy Project to generally improve the Kiowa Water and Wastewater Authority’s infrastructure. The town also recently received
Authority and one to update the Town of Kiowa Comprehensive (Master) Plan. Below is a summary of each of the grants along with comments from Kiowa Town Administrator Kimberly Boyd.
Town of Kiowa Drainage and Sidewalks Project
On April 21, the Town of Kiowa applied for a Transportation Alternatives Program (TAP) Grant from the Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) seeking $2 million
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SMALL STAGES, BIG ACTS Bars host talent on the upswing
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