Week of December 8, 2022
FREE
DOUGLAS COUNTY, COLORADO
A publication of
LoneTreeVoice.net
INSIDE: VOICES: PAGE 12 | LIFE: PAGE 14 | CALENDAR: PAGE 17 | SPORTS: PAGE 24
VOLUME 21 | ISSUE 42
Lone Tree residents enjoy tree lighting celebration Featured live music, Santa BY TAYLER SHAW TSHAW@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM
The state partners with local communities to increase and preserve Colorado’s affordable housing stock, manage rentalassistance vouchers, and address homelessness, says the state’s “blue book” voter guide, noting the state Department of Local Affairs is involved. The current budget for the department’s affordable housing initiatives is about $200 million, about half of which is from state sources, with the rest coming from federal sources. Since 2021, the state has allocated more than $1.2 billion from the federal American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 for
affordable housing and services that address housing insecurity, lack of affordable and workforce housing, or homelessness. (The Urban Land Institute defines “workforce” households as those earning between 60% and 120% of the area median income.) These are one-time funds that will be spent over the next several years on: • Emergency rental assistance; • Homeowner mortgage assistance; • Tax credits for developers; • Housing and infrastructure; • And other housing solutions, such as manufactured homes.
reduce the Taxpayer’s Bill of Rights, or TABOR, refunds that Coloradans receive — by $86 per taxpayer for 2024, for example. Yet voters in November also sought to reduce their taxes and, taken together, the changes could lead to difficult decisions down the road, said Scott Wasserman, who leads the nonprofit Bell Policy Center, which advocates for economic mobility for Coloradans. He called the passage of the measure “bittersweet.”
“I think what makes it bitter is that it passed in conjunction with Proposition 121,” a measure voters approved to lower the state income tax rate, Wasserman said. Proposition 121 is expected to take a roughly $400-million bite out of the state budget next year while Proposition 123 will eventually increase spending about $290 million yearly. State Rep. Rod Bockenfeld, a
The sound of Christmasthemed music, crackling fires and laughter filled the air as 3-year-old Sonia Jones cuddled up to Santa Claus for a photo outside the Lone Tree Arts Center. Families and community members of all ages gathered at the center on Dec. 2 for the City of Lone Tree’s Holiday Tree Lighting Celebration. Among the many attractions at the event — including fire pits to make s’mores, live musical performances, pictures with Santa, and the chance to meet reindeers and horses — Sonia’s favorite were the large shimmering, dancing trees. “It’s magic,” she said. Living in Lone Tree, Sonia and her parents, Suzy and Dave Jones, attended the event last year as well. “It’s becoming our annual tradition to come out,” Suzy Jones said. “It’s awesome.” She said the event is important because it brings the community together and also gives residents a chance to see Mayor Jackie Millet. To kick off the event, the mayor and members of the city council gathered to welcome families and lead a countdown to light the Christmas tree standing outside the arts center. “We are so excited to be here to kick off the Merry Days celebration and the holiday season in the city,” Millet said. People excitedly counted down from 10 to one, and as the Christmas tree turned on and brightly shined, cheers erupted. “This is the season of thanks, and I’ve got a lot to be thankful for. And our city has a lot to be thankful for,” Millet said. “I feel
SEE HOUSING, P10
SEE CHRISTMAS, P2
With voter approval, Colorado will embark on how to have more affordable housing statewide.
SHUTTERSTOCK IMAGE
Affordable housing initiative could face rocky future Proposition 123 was approved by Colorado voters BY ELLIS ARNOLD EARNOLD@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM
Few issues affect Coloradans as much as rising housing prices. The state will take a step toward addressing the problem — to the tune of hundreds of millions of dollars per year — as officials implement Proposition 123 approved by voters in November. In just 12 years, the median cost of a single-family home in the Denver area jumped from about $200,000 to three times that amount, according to the latest report by the Colorado Association of Realtors. The trend was similar statewide. Under Proposition 123, state officials are required to set money aside for more affordable housing and programs to help Coloradans acquire homes and stay housed. Though the measure didn’t raise tax rates to fund those programs, it will, eventually,
WHAT COLORADO CURRENTLY DOES ON AFFORDABLE HOUSING