The Dolores Town Board approved a $2 million budget for 2022 that funds a variety of services, operations, maintenance and capital projects.
The budget is balanced, said Treasurer Tricia Gibson, meaning no fund has expenditures in excess of available reserves and fund balances. It can be viewed on the town website.
Budgeted expenditures include the general fund $994,180; streets $409,361; water $352,133; sewer $232,075; and conservation trust $15,000. Total reserves funds are $1.7 million.
Sales taxes have continued to increase for the town and have helped to offset revenue losses from the oil and gas sector.
Total revenues from the town’s 3.5% sales tax increased by 29% from 2020 to 2021; 38% from 2019 to 2020; and 30% from 2018 to 2019.
An increase in shopping local and online sales has contributed to the increase, said Town Manager Ken Charles.
“We anticipate this trend to continue as the nation, state and region experiences growth,” Gibson said.
A slump in the energy industry has reduced town revenue. Severance taxes are expected to be zero for 2022, down from $413 in 2021 and $7,632 in 2020.
Dolores’ share of mineral taxes also is expected to be zero, down from $54,000 in 2020 and $25,000 in 2021.
The budget includes a contract with the Montezuma County Sheriff’s Office for $200,000, the same as in 2021. The town also will spend $40,000 for a new sheriff vehicle, a purchase that occurs every three years as part of the contract.
The new GMC sheriff vehicle is backlogged because of supply chain shortages, Charles said. The replaced truck will go to the town’s Public Works department.
Because of increased calls and traffic in town, Sheriff Steve Nowlin added a third deputy to patrol Dolores in the summer during special events at no extra cost.
Beginning this year, the town will partner with the Sheriff’s Office, Montezuma County and mental health care providers to create a community intervention program.
The countywide program will use an EMT and social worker to assist people suffering from noncriminal emergency situations such as mental illness, substance abuse, public intoxication, homelessness and family disputes. Area governments are pitching in, and Dolores’ share is $16,065, and may be covered by funds from the American Rescue Plan Act.
For the first time, the town is showing all park-related expenses for maintenance, operations and capital outlay. Expenses in 2022 were projected at $147,502.
“This is 15% of the town’s General Fund and demonstrates the community value and importance of the town parks,” Gibson stated.
The town plans to build a public restroom in Flanders Park. It is seeking a Colorado Department of Transportation grant to offset 75% of total costs, expected to be $100,000 to $150,000. A preliminary plan is to build the restrooms on the southwest corner of the park.
The restroom is needed for community events, and for travelers, Charles said.
“A public restroom gets people to stop, then they can visit local businesses,” he said.
Other park purchases will be bear-proof garbage containers, a parks utility terrain vehicle and a Fishing is Fun River Project to improve river access and fish habitat. A community garden is planned for the area south of the playground at Joe Rowell Park.
The 2022 budget includes a 4% cost of living wage increase. Employee health insurance costs increased by 3%.
Town staffing remains the same and includes a full-time clerk, assistant clerk and town manager, plus four public works employees, a seasonal summer park worker, and a part-time building inspector, attorney and treasurer.
Staff salaries and benefits are paid out from the general, streets, water and sewer funds and will be $744,192, or 37% of the town’s annual expenses.
The budget for streets includes graveling and chip sealing, and for dust retardant in some locations.
New for 2022, the town will complete collaborative projects with homeowners and businesses to improve sidewalks, curbs and gutters. The town will remove old sidewalks and provide gravel, and the homeowner will pay for the new concrete. Contact town staff for more information.
As part of the water fund, the town is budgeting $50,000 to begin engineering for Phase 2 of the water line improvements to replace 50-year old, undersized water lines in the west side of town.
“Replacing and upsizing the lines will improve firefighting flows,” Charles said.
Phase 1 was completed in 2020 and consisted of replacing the Colorado Highway 145 water line crossings.
In addition, this year engineering will begin on a second water tank to supplement the town’s current 300,000-gallon tank.
- The budget includes a $240,039 grant from the federal government for the American Rescue Plan Act. The town will determine how to prioritize spending of the grant in 2022, and no decisions have been made.
- The town budgeted $25,800 for contributions to various nonprofits and provide services to Dolores residents. They contributions include: Southwest Health Alliance $500; AXIS Health $500; Montezuma County Transportation $800; Four Corners Recycling $1,500; Rotary Club for holiday lights and bike race $750; Southwest Colorado Cycling Association for trail maintenance $500; Dolores Chamber of Commerce $5,000; Dolores Library $2,500; Dolores Community Center $4,500; Galloping Goose Historical Society $2,500; Dolores Senior Center $2,000; and special projects or events $5,000.
- Funding is set aside for a new emergency siren and a backup generator for the water treatment plant to prepare for events such as wildfires or floods.
- The town has budgeted $10,000 toward conducting a study on affordable housing, and a grant match is being sought. The town has also set aside $10,000 to work on local economic development issues.
- The town upgraded its 30-year old land use code in late 2019 and plans to complete the project in 2022. The $50,000 project was offset by a $25,000 grant from the Department of Local Affairs.
jmimiaga@the-journal.com
