Finance
Salida City Council To Discuss Financial Management Plan – by Floyd Rovano – Ark Valley Voice
Salida City Council will hold a work session starting at 6:00 p.m. this Monday, October 14, in the council chambers at the Touber Building, 448 East First Street.
The Financial Management Plan (FMP) discussed at the work session on September 16 has been updated and will be formally presented to the council. The presentation, made by the city’s finance department in junction with UMB’s Public Finance Group, looks to the past and present of Salida’s finances. Using these numbers, it presents some hypotheticals depending on what council decides to do in the future.
For example, what would happen if the city decides to create a fire protection district? What if voters approve of another sales tax increase? What if council decides to do nothing? All of these possibilities will be explored.
Next, council will hear about the finances of the soaking pool project, and will discuss whether or not to continue moving forward with it, with so little funds and rising costs. There are options in between “keep building” and “don’t” that council will consider.
2023 lighting of the world’s biggest Christmas tree in Salida. Photo by Carly Winchell
After this, council will discuss what they can do about the road access up Tenderfoot Mountain and deteriorating infrastructure at the summit. A public comment was made on August 6 pleading for the narrow road to be reopened.
Until 2023, the gate to Spiral Drive was open during the summer; the gate was not opened that year due to structural concerns for the heavy traffic that it receives, from bicyclists and pedestrians to heavier cars.
Additionally, the current volunteer group that maintain the lights on S Mountain said that they are not going to continue in 2025. This has been in the works for some time. City council is expected to offer staff direction regarding the issue.
Lastly, city council will look at the housing development projects they have approved in the last several years and check on their progress. A useful spreadsheet showing all approved projects is available on page 27 of the packet, located here.
Community Development staff will also present a draft of comparative numbers for the past and future–building permit numbers, interest rates and their impact on development, and the number of inclusionary housing units expected over time are just a few.
As always, a reminder: no decisions are reached at work sessions; they serve to provide direction leading to eventual binding ordinances or resolutions. The full agenda packet and instructions on how to join online can be found here.
Featured photo: Touber Building Sign where Salida City Council meetings are held (Photo by Taylor Sumners)