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Housing plan released

Tax that could provide stable funding source is one of the goals

Dana Strongin

— Developing programs for housing assistance and mobile homes are among the primary goals of the Yampa Valley Housing Authority, according to a draft plan released Monday.

The draft is the authority’s strategic plan. The multi-jurisdictional authority was formed by an agreement between Steam-boat Springs and Routt County officials.

By state statute, multi-jurisdictional housing authorities are required to develop, review, update and implement a plan focused on the management and operation of housing projects and programs.



The authority’s main goals include ensuring the financial stability of the authority, land acquisition, project development, housing assistance programs, mobile homes and local government assistance.

To develop the plan, a committee of the authority’s board of directors held a series of six public meetings in Routt County and Craig in January and February.



During the meetings, people said the five most important housing-related issues are mobile-home programs, land, deed restrictions, acquiring existing housing and an impact fee with a sales or use tax.

The last option refers to finding a dedicated funding source for the authority, which currently relies on city and county funds.

According to state statute, there are three options for dedicated funding sources:

A sales tax of 1 percent or less;

A property tax of 5 mills or less;

Or an impact fee of $2 or less per square foot.

If the authority chooses an impact fee, it must also have a tax. All of the options require a vote by residents living within the authority’s boundaries.

During a hearing May 9, members of the Steamboat Springs City Council and the Routt County Board of Com-missioners will review the plan. Comments from the public are welcome. The meeting is not required, committee member Nancy Stahoviak said, but she said she looks forward to comment from officials and the public.

“We wanted to have a meeting to review this plan,” she said.

Changes suggested will be discussed during the authority meeting in May, and a formal adoption hearing likely will be in early June.

— To reach Dana Strongin, call 871-4229 or e-mail dstrongin@steamboatpilot.com


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