The News-Press 7
December 16, 2021
BUDGET FROM PAGE 1
lodging tax increase. Voters approved the lodging tax and TABOR timeout but rejected the new-home construction sales tax and the sales tax. Besides funding more police and fire needs, the TABOR timeout will also allow the town to move forward with the $75 million Crystal Valley interchange construction at Interstate 25. With voters only approving two of the measures, Corliss said the 2022 budget and the five-year plan had to be readjusted. Because public safety standards must be met, Corliss said the budget will allow the town to hire four new police officers and four new firefighters. However, to do so, cuts in other
areas had to be made, he said. No other staff in other departments will be hired, and the Employee Benefits Fund will be decreased, Corliss said. The town’s five-year public safety plan will also be changed due to the 2021 election results. Corliss said the town still has to find the revenue needed to fund a new fire station and continue to hire more officers and firefighters in future years. The $302.1 million budget also includes $142.6 million for capital improvements; $20.7 million for debt, interfund loans and transfers between funds; and $138.7 million for operations, including $18.5 million for annual pavement maintenance. The council also approved the 2022 mill levy ordinance. The mill levy rate is set to decrease to 1.139 mills from the current 1.196 mills. That means the owner of a median-
Castle Rock Town Manager David Corliss and Police Chief Jack Cauley listen to Mayor FILE PHOTO BY THELMA GRIMES Jason Gray deliver the State of the Town address in October.
valued home in the town ($449,947) would pay $36.64 in property taxes annually to the town in exchange for
general government, public safety, parks, recreation, and planning and code enforcement services.
It’s clear this stream is grateful. Our streams want to say thanks for giving them a gift this year. Your actions made a difference in keeping our water clean. You chose to properly dispose of household chemicals, pet waste and trash. You used fertilizers appropriately and kept harmful material out of runoff’s path. You volunteered at local events to preserve our waterways. Keep up the good work. Local stormwater agencies are teaming up to bring you this message. We take this so seriously we posted this ad rather than send you more garbage in the mail. One thing is clear: our creeks, rivers and lakes depend on you.
THIS STORMWATER MESSAGE BROUGHT TO YOU BY
Visit onethingisclear.org to: • Report accidental and illegal dumping to your local agency • Search local volunteer events • Find more helpful tips Make your New Year’s Resolution now; get involved. Contact your local agency for upcoming events.
Photo taken along East Plum Creek in Castle Rock.
Colorado Community Media agrees: Please recycle this newspaper responsibly and partner with our communities for a better tomorrow. Ad campaign creative donated by the Town of Castle Rock Utilities Department, Stormwater Division.
