FORT LUPTON PRESS S E RV I N G T H E C O M M U N I T Y S I N C E 19 0 6
VOLUME 118
WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 29, 2021
Taking stock of 2021 in Fort Lupton
LIGHTS OF THE SEASON
WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 25 , 2020
VOLUME 117
75cI
ISSUE 1
ISSUE 48
THE SEASON FOR SHARING
Teaching moments, marijuana movement, COVID dot first half of Fort Lupton’s 2021 STAFF REPORT
For a town of about 7,000 people, there certainly was a lot of news in the first half of 2021. City council talked about development – a lot of it – plus wastewater improvements and acquiring land for a new Fort Lupton Public & School Library. The Weld Re-8 board of education discussed curriculum, policy matters and the appropriateness of masks considering the ongoing pandemic. The year’s news started early .. just six days into the calendar year – after a riot at the U.S. Capitol. Here’s our look at the first six months of Fort Lupton news.
The residents of Fort Lupton plugin and lit up their houses for the annual Holiday lighting contest held by the Fort Lupton Chamber of Commerce on Dec. 20. Members of the Chamber and Mayor Zo Stieber drove around town to see the beautiful displays of Christmas to make the selections. The Mayor’s Choice Award, and a $150 cash prize, went to the display at 154 Second St. COURTESY CODY LEBLANC
State’s fiscal outlook keeps getting better Larger TABOR refunds on the horizon
means little for how much state expected. lawmakers will have to spend in The nonpartisan Legislative January next year’s budget. Tax dollars in Council Staff estimated there will Two local school districts agree the next three fiscal years were be nearly $800 million more in that the Jan. 6 takeover of the U.S. already expected to exceed limits revenue for the state’s general fund Capitol is a teaching tool in their this fiscal year, which began in July on state revenue in the Taxpayer’s schools. Brighton Education AsBY DANIEL DUCASSI AND JESSE PAUL Bill of Rights, meaning the Friday and ends June 30, than they presociation President Kathey Ruybal COLORADO SUN dicted in September, and more than forecasts predicting even more tax and then-Fort Lupton Education dollars flowing into state coffers $500 million in additional revenue President Kimberly Flanagan said Economists are more optimistic the riot that killed five, including about Colorado’s tax revenue future for the next fiscal year than their simply means that more money will previous forecast showed. two District of Columbia police than they were three months ago, have to be refunded to taxpayers. That compares with slightly officers, presented a “teachable moeven though labor and inflation Nonpartisan legislative staff lower estimates from OSPB economent.” strains continue and amid uncernow anticipate about $2 billion of mists who say there will be about tainty caused by COVID-19. annual TABOR surplus revenue in “Just as with content area $700 million more in revenue for The headwinds have so far not each of the next three fiscal years, instruction, teachers make importhe state’s general fund this fiscal been “strong enough to slow the well above the $550 million to $900 tant choices about which methods year than in their last forecast, and impressive growth,” said Meredith million in excess predicted in and materials will be most develabout $420 million more for the Moon, the deputy director of the September, when they last opmentally appropriate for their next fiscal year than they previGovernor’s Office of State Planning presented to the JBC. students,” Flanagan said. “Given ously thought. and Budgeting. OSPB’s forecast was a bit less the details of the events and the “Colorado’s economy is coming OSPB and nonpartisan legislaoptimistic, predicting $2 billion in coverage they received, discussions back strong,” Gov. Jared Polis said tive staff presented separate, but with younger students might be excess revenue in the current fiscal in a written statement. “This foreequally rosy budget forecasts to the focused on helping them process year, and $1.7 billion in excess revEvery year before Thanksgiving, First United Methodist Church in Fort Lupton and the Fort Lupton Food and Clothingenue Bankin provide community cast shows a robust recovery.” legislature’s Joint Budget Comwhat they’ve heard and how they’re the 2022-23 and 2023-24 fiscal members with food boxes. This will be the program’s 10th consecutive year. Above, Joe Hubert, left China Garcia and Sue Hubert with 4 Change, mittee on Friday. Economists for feeling.” years. That’s stillChange well above the Outlook barely affects budget thatmore state tax revenue Ruybalorganization and Flanagan agreed the another that helps with the both foodagreed drive. See on Page 2. SEE STATE, P3 The improved outlook ultimately will end up higher than previously SEE 2021, P8
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