<body><div><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=2LEo4q_0w9k0i6o00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=2LEo4q_0w9k0i6o00" width="1153" height="773" >Editor’s note: Readers have likely been wondering where the GarCo Report has gone, and it’s not because the commissioners have taken a break. Rather, The Sopris Sun reached capacity with elections coverage and ace reporter Amy Hadden Marsh taking time to assist with KDNK’s news director transition. We look forward to resuming our regular coverage.Starting off on a lighter note, in the time that the GarCo Report has been absent from the pages of The Sun, Patrice Fuller of Carbondale Beer Works went in front of the Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) a couple of times to obtain a brew pub license to open a second establishment where Ball Brewing once was — off Highway 82 across from the Thunder River Market.Way back on Sept. 9, Fuller appeared in front of the BOCC, and following that hearing was to conduct a community survey within a set boundary. She returned on Oct. 7 with two pages of signatures from nearby residents in favor of the brewery. Asked if there was any opposition, Fuller stated, not necessarily, but two residents said they didn’t care either way.“Why should we go ahead and approve this license?” Chairman John Martin asked Fuller.“I want to replicate a little of what we do at Beer Works. We provide a lot of community service [and] donate to a lot of nonprofits,” she replied. “The people I’ve talked to who live in that neighborhood are excited to have somewhere where they can walk to and gather. It’s just a little space with some beer, wine, pizza and some nonalcoholic drinks.”Fuller also noted that opening the location will keep a couple of her team members adequately employed, “so they can continue to live in the Valley,” she told the commissioners. “It will provide my staff in Carbondale with some security.”The board unanimously approved the brew pub liquor license.Anytime Fitness is moving into the front part of what used to be Ball Brewery’s taproom. The Garage will be located behind Anytime Fitness, with an entry on the east side of the building. “So go support Kevin,” Fuller told The Sopris Sun, referring to Anytime’s owner. “Get on the elliptical … Then come have a beer.”Aside from a pending fire inspection, Fuller is set to open the doors in the near future. So stay tuned.2025 proposed budgetProposed revenues for 2025 amount to $125.4 million, a $2.8 million decrease from the 2024 adopted budget. Proposed expenditures, however, have gone up. For 2025, the total proposed expenditures amount to $139.7 million — a $8.3 million increase.“We continually face the challenge of a volatile, commodity-based revenue structure that has recently resulted in significantly reduced property tax revenues due to the decline in oil and gas production,” County Manager Fred Jarman said during the Oct. 7 meeting.He added that high inflation is a contributing factor, as well as equity adjustments (including county salaries and healthcare costs). Lastly, he pointed to the $11.2 million deficit in the proposed 2025 capital budget and a $3.4 million deficit in the proposed discretionary budget.To make up the difference for the capital and discretionary budgets, the commissioners could opt to pull from reserves. However, as reported by the Post Independent last week, the commissioners are considering reducing discretionary spending by 10%.The operational budget, on the other hand, is balanced with proposed revenues at $118,767,727 and expenditures of $118,307,948, leaving a net balance of $459,779.Jarman finished by cautioning the commissioners of the potential impacts once Colorado House Bill 1001, meant to lower property tax rates, goes into effect. He stated, “That picture is not clear … but it is coming and it will likely mean that your revenues will drop.”The commissioners will revisit the budget on Tuesday, Oct. 22. It’s expected to be adopted on Tuesday, Nov. 12.</div></body>

Mountain View, CA

NewsBreak

GarCo Report: Beer and budgets

Editor’s note: Readers have likely been wondering where the GarCo Report has gone, and it’s not because the commissioners have taken a break. Rather, The Sopris Sun reached capacity with elections coverage and ace reporter Amy Hadden Marsh taking time to assist with KDNK’s news director transition. We look forward to resuming our regular coverage.