Fire Chief urges, Colorado taxpayers should see hefty refund checks

Good news on revenues means more money coming back to residents

BY JESSE PAUL THE COLORADO SUN

Colorado taxpayers will be sent even larger refund checks next year than expected after state tax revenues nished the scal year much higher than budget analysts for the legislature and in the governor’s o ce predicted.

Fort Lupton’s annual display set for July 1

BY BELEN WARD BWARD@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

When it comes to celebrating Independence Day, Fort Lupton Fire Protection District Chief Phil Ti any is urging residents to let the professionals handle the reworks.

“We understand that you may observe reworks within the city and those people may be subjected to a citation if they violate the Municipal Ordinance,” Ti any said. “Again, legal reworks should not leave the re that damages property. We discourage the use of all reworks in the dry conditions.” e city of Fort Lupton will host its rework display on after dark on July e exceptions are reworks companies that have been pre-approved for public display.

1, the Saturday before July 4.

Ti any said the City of Fort Lupton and Weld County follow state-wide guidelines on reworks. Any rework that leaves the ground explodes is not legal.

Sparklers and fountains are allowed.

Fireworks safety

Ti any said the combination of how many res start each summer in Colorado. Residents must use caution with reworks so people are not injured and property is damaged.

“Stray reworks, such as bottle rockets, can easily start weeds or a house on re,” Ti any said. “Exploding reworks or reworks that leave the ground, which are illegal in Colorado, can also cause injuries or burns to small children and adults.” e state may now have to refund nearly $1 billion more than originally expected, nonpartisan Legislative Council Sta and the governor’s O ce of State Planning and Budgeting told state lawmakers in June, increasing refund checks by hundreds of dollars per person. e legislature passed a bill in the nal three days of its 2023 lawmaking term, which ended May 8, that would make the refund check amounts the same for everyone if voters pass Proposition HH.

Ti any said that sparklers are much more dangerous than most people realize, but every year, children use sparklers at festivals and parade routes.

Exactly how large those Taxpayer’s Bill of Rights refund checks will be remains in ux, in part because the number will be determined by whether voters pass Proposition HH in November, a 10-year property tax relief plan from Democrats in the General Assembly and Gov. Jared Polis.

SEE REFUND, P11

Independence Day celebration July 1 e city will host it’s Independence Day celebration on Saturday July 1 featuring food, games, live music and fun. e event features a Pancake Breakfast, Resource Fair, Kids Zone, Tractor Rides, Slip-nSlide, Zip Line and much much more! Learn more online at https:// www.fortluptonco.gov/471/Independence-Day-Celebration

Signing up for Citywide yard sale e city’s annual Citywide Yard Sale is on July 7 & 8.

If residents are interested in hosting a yard sale at your property and would like to be included on the City map for the event, they should submit their information by June 26 online at https://forms.gle/zx52bfmjXCks37NP9

Event maps will be available online at https://www.fortluptonco. gov/556/Citywide-Yard-Sale, in the Fort Lupton Press and shared on social media.

GOCO grant to help Weld County anglers e Great Outdoors Colorado board awarded the grant to Colorado Parks and Wildlife and United Way of Weld County through the create a funding source for one-time projects that would not otherwise receive funding from either organization. e Housing Navigation Center helps its unhoused people get back into and keep housing. e current grant will cover the cost of annual shing licenses and shing gear as well as programming through CPW’s Angler Education Program for 300 Weld County residents over the next three years. It’s designed to help the unhoused or county residents that are at-risk and do not have su cient nancial means to pay for shing licenses and gear.

A $23,000 grant from Great Outdoors Colorado will be used to help 300 Weld County residents get shing licenses and shing gear over the next three years.

Farm to Market tickets on sale e Foundation’s biennial fundraising campaign will bene t women’s health services to help women connect with the care they need throughout their adult years and to support area women who do not always prioritize their own health needs. e foundation hopes to raise $500,000 in the campaign cycle. ey conduct multiple fundraising e orts annually with Farm to Table as the largest event.

Tickets for Farm to Table, a fundraising event for the Platte Valley Medical Foundation scheduled for Aug. 17 are on sale now.

Farm to Table will be at 6 p.m. Aug. 17 on the hospital campus. Platte Valley Medical Center’s Chef Mike Anderson uses produce available to the public for $75 each. ey are available at https://ftt2023. cbo.io.

State youth council needs members e Colorado legislature’s nonpartisan Colorado Youth Advisory Council has openings for new members across the state for the 2023-25 term. e Youth Advisory Council is a statewide organization dedicated to youth-led civic service learning. Youth members lead policy committees that analyze issues and policies that impact youth across Colorado. Policy work can include making recommendations about current policies or advocating for new ones. Council members conduct research, write problem/solution statements, meet with subject matter experts, build relationships with legislators, and seek feedback from their peers and communities. e Colorado Legislature created the youth advisory council in 2008 to give Colorado’s youth ages 14-19 a voice in lawmaking. Youth council members work each summer to propose policy ideas to a committee of legislators. Each summer, students present policy proposals to legislators. During the last two years, several policies the youth council identi ed became law, including increased crisis services, higher education programs for fostered youth, educational standards and e orts to prevent eating disorders.

Applications are due June 19. State organizers plan to host an informational session for applicants at 6 p.m. June 14. Find info at www. coyac.org/apply.

Donation time e Fort Lupton Food & Clothing Bank is asking for donations of canned fruits and nuts, varieties of dry pasta and pasta dinners, peanut butter and canned meat such as tuna (including the pouches).

Other potential donations could include chicken, Vienna sausages, spam and salmon. e bank also needs personal items, such as toiletries and baby needs.

Drop o donations at the food and clothing bank’s back door, 421 Denver Ave., on weekdays between 9 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. Call 303-8571096.

1-8, and 9-10.

Monday-Thursday 8:00-4:00 (All grades) eryone interested in taking steps for a healthier lifestyle. After a few minutes to learn about a current health topic from the doctor, spend the rest of the hour enjoying a healthy walk and fun talk.

Blessings in a Bag

Fort Lupton’s Backpack Program helps school children in need with a backpack of healthy food. It’s an allvolunteer program and is in need of volunteers. If interested in volunteering or donating, call 303-7184440. Mail donations to Blessings in a Bag, 306 Park Ave., Fort Lupton 80621.

Drop-in child care e Fort Lupton Recreation Center o ers drop-in child care from 8:30 to 11 a.m. Mondays and Wednesdays or Tuesdays and ursdays. Call 303-857-4200.

Fort Lupton senior lunches

Senior lunches are available at noon Mondays at the Fort Lupton Recreation Center, 203 S. Harrison Ave. Sign up by noon the previous ursday. Call 303-857-4200, ext. 6166.

Co ee group

Fort Lupton’s weekly co ee group sessions are at 8 a.m. Wednesdays. Call 303-857-4200.

Silver Sneakers

Silver Sneaker Yoga is available Fridays from 9 to 9:45 a.m. and from 10 to 10:45 a.m. at the Fort Lupton recreation Center, 203 S. Harrison Ave.

Water aerobics e city’s water aerobics class meets from 6 to 6:45 p.m. Tuesdays and ursdays at the Fort Lupton Recreation Center, 203 S. Harrison Ave. Call 303-857-4200.

Pen pals

Fort Lupton’s senior pen pal program through Twombly Elementary School is looking for participants. Learn more at: https://www.fortluptonco.gov/950/Senior-Pen-PalProgram.

Craft classes

Monthly craft classes through the Fort Lupton Recreation Center (203 S. Harrison Ave.) are available. Call 303-857-4200, ext. 6166 with questions.