Briefs Mt. Crested Butte

 by Alissa Johnson

January sales tax revenue below budget

According to town manager Joe Fitzpatrick sales tax collection for January 2016 was $256,954, or $32,876 below budget. That’s about an 11 percent decrease. He pointed out that January 2015, which was used to set this year’s budget, was historically high due to significant group business at Crested Butte Mountain Resort. January sales tax collection is still higher than the average of the last three years by 6 percent.

2015 sales tax collection on the rise

Town finance director Karl Trujillo reported that total sales tax collections for 2015 were $2,214,332. That’s $120,593 higher than 2014 collections.

Paving the way for the Spiegeltent 

The town approved a sublease so that the Crested Butte Music Festival can set up its Spiegeltent at the site of the future Biery-Witt Center. While the town had already leased that site to the Mt. Crested Butte Performing Arts Center, it reserved the right to approve any subleases.

Ensuring employee housing

Fitzpatrick and town attorney Kathy Fogo have been working with the owner of Elk Ridge II condominiums to clean up the restrictive covenant. The complex had a unit called an “employee living space” but the housing requirements were not well defined. The amendment to the covenant makes it clear that it will be a long-term rental unit.

“It will not allow short term rentals,” Fitzpatrick said, explaining that housing restrictions won’t be as detailed as projects coming online now but the homeowner was amenable to making the covenant clear.

The saga continues

At its March 15 meeting, the council reviewed a proposed settlement agreement between Reserve Metro Districts 1 and 2 related to disputes over who would pay for ongoing infrastructure costs and related disagreements.

Kathy Fogo reviewed the agreement to ensure that it met all conditions set by the town in a recent amendment to its service plan with the districts.

While the council gave the town attorney and town manager approval to sign the agreement when it is finalized, one sticking point could remain. District 2 has not approved language requested by Gunnison County, which seeks to ensure that District 2 covers tax abatements related to a mill levy that exceeded its legal cap.

If either district fails to approve the settlement agreement, the issue will go to court in April.

Thanks all around

Outgoing mayor Dave Clayton and outgoing councilmember Gary Keiser thanked the council and town staff for their service over the last eight years. They both commended the staff for doing an excellent job and asked that their commendations be pass on to the whole staff.