JANUARY 28 - FEBRUARY 4, 2026
VOLUME 33, ISSUE 5
THE DEFINITIVE SOURCE FOR GRAND JUNCTION BUSINESS & COMMUNITY NEWS SINCE 1994
D51 financial update paints dire picture of future Brandon Leuallen The Business Times
M
esa County Valley School District 51 warned of increasing financial instability during the Jan. 20 Board of Education meeting, citing state and federal funding uncertainty, declining enrollment and what board members described as misleading assurances from the State of Colorado regarding school finance protections. District officials said those assurances centered on the state’s “hold harmless” provision, which the district was repeatedly told would protect it from funding losses. That understanding has now been contradicted by a revised state interpretation, while the district is also facing an unexpected $600,000 reduction midyear due to what the state is calling a glitch and rising concerns about larger losses ahead. Federal funding uncertainty District 51’s contracted state lobbyist Amy Attwood began her report with an update on federal education funding, describing it as unstable amid ongoing efforts by the Trump administration to reduce the role of the U.S. Department of Education. Attwood said the administration’s proposed fiscal year 2026 budget includes a 15 percent reduction to overall Department of Education funding, roughly $67 billion. See story Page 6
THEBUSINESSTIMES.COM
Cross Orchard construction
After buying 8 acres of land from Museums of Western Colorado, Cross Orchard Development LLC had to wait more than four years to start work on a 28-home subdivision. — See Page 2
Erik Olson, co-owner of Cross Orchard Development LLC and owner of Belle Rose Builders, stands in front of a Komatsu dozer at the eight-acre site where 28 single-family homes will be built. Excavation and dirt work began in November to install infrastructure and ready the streets for paving in the spring. Olson said once the streets are paved, construction will commence. The land formerly was part of Cross Orchards Historic Site. Photo by Tim Harty.
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