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Week of February 16, 2023
ADAMS & JEFFERSON COUNTY, COLORADO
A publication of
WestminsterWindow.com
VOLUME 78 | ISSUE 17
PUC responds to Polis’ call for utility relief Searching for answers BY JOSHUA PERRY THE COLORADO SUN
Colorado’s Public Utilities Commission on Feb. 8 discussed addressing bill price hikes in response to Gov.
Jared Polis’s utility cost-reduction directive, but it isn’t clear what the first steps will be. Chairman Eric Blank said that the PUC has been tasked with a wide range of objectives to ease an affordability crisis that made consumers’ utility bills 52% higher on average in December. Some consumers saw their
bills double or even triple. “Among other things, the governor has asked us to identify ways to support customers in the most dire circumstances, improve access to and the capacity of the bill assistance program, find ways to incentivize utilities to reduce customer costs, analyze approaches for limiting bill spikes, and to
expand public engagement on these issues before the end PUC,” he said. Blank said he didn’t know how the PUC would take action on this directive right now, but they would continue addressing affordability in the coming weeks. SEE ENERGY, P4
Tim Long to replace Jenny Willford on Northglenn council BY LUKE ZARZECKI LZARZECKI@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM
pay any taxes on TABOR refunds, according to the state’s revenue department. TABOR, which stands for the Taxpayer’s Bill of Rights, goes back to 1992 in Colorado. The law
Northglenn City Council held a special meeting on Feb. 6 to appoint Tim Long to fill former Mayor Pro Tem Jenny Willford’s seat on council. He was approved unanimously. Ward 1 City Councilor Ashley Witkovich was previously appointed to mayor pro tem. Long was chosen from seven total candidates vying to replace Willford. She resigned her seat after she was elected to her new position as state representative for Colorado’s District 34. Long’s term will last until Nov. 7, 2023, which is the next municipal election. He received a letter of recommendation from Northglenn’s fire chief, David Ramos. Long has been a director on the North Metro Fire Board since 2012. “During his tenure, Tim has served primarily in the role of board treasurer and has been an outstanding fiduciary of taxpayer dollars. He exercises a close attention to detail and has worked closely with staff to support the financial well-being of the fire district,” Ramos wrote in the letter.
SEE TAXES, P2
SEE COUNCIL, P4
Skyview’s Mario Macias holds on to the leg of Wellington’s Huston Willhite during a second-round consolation match at the class 3A Region 1 tournament at Eaton High School Feb. 11. Willhite won by pinfall in 3:56. Macias did not place in the weight class. PHOTO BY STEVE SMITH More wrestling coverage on page 23.
IRS to Coloradans: Don’t file your taxes yet BY SARAH MULHOLLAND COLORADO PUBLIC RADIO
Coloradans may owe federal taxes on last year’s TABOR refunds. The IRS says the state’s residents should hold off on filing their tax
returns until the agency figures out how it’s going to handle the issue. The IRS issued the directive to residents of several states that received refunds or special payments in 2022. Coloradans shouldn’t have to
INSIDE: CALENDAR: PAGE 11 | VOICES: PAGE 12 | OBITUARIES: PAGE 13 | SPORTS: PAGE 22
BLACK HISTORY IN PRINT Paging through a newspapers legacy, for good and bad
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