Colorado
Colorado legislature passes bill to loosen restrictions on how counties fund affordable housing
Kit Geary/Summit Daily News archive
A bill to give counties more ways to fund affordable housing cleared the Colorado legislature Wednesday and is on its way to Gov. Jared Polis’ desk.
Senate Bill 1 would allow counties to spend property tax revenue collected in their general fund on affordable housing efforts, and allow counties and municipalities to sell buildings and land they own to fund workforce housing developments, except for parks.
The bill also grants more flexibility for when communities hold local elections to form and fund multijurisdictional housing authorities, and expands eligibility for tax credits that help finance middle-income housing developments.
The measure is sponsored by Sens. Dylan Roberts, D-Frisco, and Jeff Bridges, D-Greenwood Village, as well as Reps. Andrew Boesenecker, D-Fort Collins, and Chris Richardson, R-Elbert County.
Roberts, who represents ski towns with some of the highest housing costs in the state, and where housing needs stretch across a broad income spectrum, said the bill gives communities more options for combating their affordability issues.
“This gives them more tools to have local control over their housing decisions,” he said during debate on the bill in the Senate last month, “and makes sure that they can put more of their community members in housing they can afford so they can continue to live in those communities and make them great places to be.”
SB 1 is supported by an array of local governments and housing groups who say the bill is a common-sense measure that lifts restrictive provisions on how governments finance affordable housing.
While counties, for example, can use voter-approved property tax dollars, often referred to as a mill levy increase, to fund specific initiatives, like housing, they currently don’t have authority from the state to use property tax revenue that goes to their general fund for housing. The general fund is often a county’s largest fund account and typically supports core programs, like public safety and human services, as well as county departments.
“The bill would allow counties to contemplate affordable housing as we do any other kind of infrastructure such as water, sewer and roads,” Summit County Commissioner Tamara Pogue said during the bill’s first hearing in late January. “It gives us the flexibility to weigh all these needs as we prepare our budgets, allowing us to make the most thoughtful and balanced decisions possible on behalf of our communities.”
Pogue added that in mountain communities like hers, the cost of building affordable housing continues to become more expensive. She said the county had a housing project estimated to cost $55 million in December 2024, only for that to jump to more than $80 million in March 2025.
“If counties aren’t given the flexibility to leverage our general funds as we try to fill that gap our efforts will be significantly harder than they already are,” Pogue said.
The bill ultimately passed both legislative chambers with broad bipartisan support, with the Senate voting 28-6 on Wednesday to approve changes made to the bill in the House, where it passed by a vote of 53-10 the day before.
A handful of Republicans opposed the measure, with some saying they had a fundamental disagreement with letting affordable housing be the role of local governments.
“This would be a fine tool for local governments, if that were the proper role of government — to provide housing for the people,” Sen. Mark Baisely, R-Sedalia, said while debating the bill in the Senate last month. “… The way that we should lower the cost of housing would be less and less involvement by the government in our lives, including in our housing.”
Sen. Janice Rich, R-Grand Junction, said she had concerns about proliferating what she called “high-density development” that could lower homeowners’ property values. Rich said homeowners’ property taxes should not be used to pay for government-supported housing.
Roberts said his bill does not place any mandates on local governments when it comes to housing, something that has proven to be a thorny issue in the legislature in recent years. Unlike more controversial measures to usurp local zoning codes, which Republicans staunchly opposed, Roberts said SB 1 preserves local control.
“I thought that’s what my friends on this side of the aisle wanted,” he said.
Colorado
Colorado community reels after police say driver with revoked license hits three pedestrians, killing one
A man already driving with a suspended license from a DUI is now accused of intentionally plowing into three people on a sidewalk in Colorado.
This happened near the intersection of East Wildcat Reserve Parkway and Willowbridge Way in Highlands Ranch around 10:30 a.m. Monday.
Witnesses say that after the crash, the driver made a U-turn, went back to the scene, slowly drove past the wreckage, then left. That allowed another witness to follow him 5.5 miles down to Daniels Park, where just 15 minutes later, 28-year-old Adam Bauserman was taken into custody.
Bauserman’s demeanor was described by deputies as “unusually quiet.” At one point, he apparently asked, “Do you know if I killed the man?”
As it would turn out, the man survived, but his girlfriend did not. Flowers are piling up at the scene of a morning walk that turned deadly.
Right now, investigators don’t believe the driver knew any of those victims.
“You expect to be safe when you’re walking on the sidewalk,” said neighbor Beth Chitel, who lived just yards from the crash site until she moved last month. “These are very highly trafficked pathways around here; it could have happened to any of our friends, any of our neighbors, any of our children.”
“This was a horrific scene,” said Douglas County Sheriff Darren Weekly.
Thirty-five-year-old Corrine More died in the crash. Her sister tells CBS Colorado she lived in the neighborhood and was out on a walk with her boyfriend. She describes Corrine as a nursing student with a big heart who was loved by everyone who knew her, and who was beautiful inside and out.
Corrine’s boyfriend, 30-year-old Kyle Vasey, was seriously injured. He has undergone multiple surgeries and was described by a doctor in the affidavit as being at substantial risk for permanent disfigurement or death.
The other victim is 72-year-old Dianne Windes. The sheriff says she was walking in the opposite direction from the couple. She was also hospitalized with serious injuries.
Witnesses believe the driver who crashed into the three pedestrians did so on purpose.
“If we can prove that, we’ll certainly do that, but at this point we have no indication of that,” Weekly said.
It was thanks to a witness who followed that truck that deputies arrested Bauserman, who was driving with a revoked license after a DUI last year.
“Mr. Bauserman has had several revocations and suspensions of his license over the last 10 years,” Weekly said. “He should never have been on the roadway, and as a result of that, somebody is now deceased.”
Deputies did not detect immediate signs of intoxication but are waiting on blood test results.
Right now, investigators believe Bauserman was only traveling 3 mph over the speed limit, at about 48 mph in a 45 mph zone. That will need to be confirmed in the investigation.
“He should never have been on the roadway, period. And so, the fact that somebody in our community has been lost in such a tragic, horrible way. How many lives have been destroyed by this selfish act?” Weekly asked.
“I want to express my sympathies to the families, and yeah, we’re here to support you as a community, and we’re by your side,” said Chitel.
Neighbor Beth Chitel started an online fundraiser for the victims.
“The last thing that the family should be having to worry about right now is the bills that are coming,” said Chitel.
The sheriff says that 15 to 20 community members stepped up to help in the aftermath of this tragedy.
Chitel says the community has been hurt by other recent tragedies, like the death of 13-year-old Alex Mackiewicz, who was hit while in the crosswalk on his way to school. That fatal crash happened just over a mile away from this one.
“Something really needs to be done. The community is well aware of the safety issues posed there, of course. Again, we don’t expect them on the sidewalk,” said Chitel. “We need more crosswalks; we could use more stoplights. We need more safety measures put in place because, in general, it’s really not a safe road. People speed on it.”
“It’s absolutely horrible. As the sheriff, I have done a lot to increase traffic enforcement. We’ve almost doubled the size of our traffic unit. I expect my folks to be out there and be productive and ensure the safety of our citizens. These tragedies, certainly back to back, are heartbreaking for everybody involved, it shouldn’t happen,” Weekly said.
Three families are forever changed, a community is left with questions, and the investigation is just beginning.
“We need to make sure that we do our job well, and that we get justice for all these victims,” Weekly said.
Bauserman is being held on charges including vehicular homicide and leaving the scene of a fatal accident.
Preliminary charges Bauserman is facing include the following seven felonies and one misdemeanor:
- Vehicular homicide
- Failure to remain at the scene of an accident involving death
- Failure to remain at the scene of an accident involving serious bodily injury (two counts)
- Vehicular assault (two counts)
- Assault in the second degree – crimes to at-risk persons
- Driving a motor vehicle with a license is under restraint (express consent refusal/DUI conviction)
These charges could change based on the results of the blood tests and additional information that is garnered through the investigation.
A judge set Bauserman’s bond at $100,000.
As the investigation continues, the sheriff’s office says anyone with additional information is encouraged to contact Detective Pereira at bpereira@dcsheriff.net or call (303) 660-7537.
Colorado
Eagle Rock Ranch
When Dave and Jean Gottenborg met as teenagers wrangling horses in Estes Park, they dreamed of one day running a ranch together. That dream fell by the wayside for decades until 2012, when the couple purchased Eagle Rock Ranch in the Tarryall Valley.
Talking about the Gottenborg’s ranch means deliberately avoiding words like “owners” and “ownership.” The couple “manage” their land — their preferred term — through the conservationist lens of thinkers like Wendell Berry and Aldo Leopold. Visitors are welcome on the land (see some basic guidelines here), and they sell their beef by the cut, box and share at their family-owned mercantile in Fairplay.
Colorado
Where to watch Colorado Rockies vs Los Angeles Angels: TV channel, start time, streaming for Jun. 02
What to know about MLB’s ABS robot umpire strike zone system
MLB launches ABS challenge system as players test robot umpire calls in a groundbreaking season.
The 2026 MLB season has surpassed the quarter mark, and after each team’s first 40 games, there’s plenty of reasons to tune in all summer long.
Chicago White Sox slugger Munetaka Murakami has already proven doubters wrong by launching 17 home runs, Pittsburgh’s Paul Skenes consistently looks like the best version of himself on the mound and Milwaukee ace Jacob Misiorowski is throwing harder than any starter in the majors.
The MLB action continues on Tuesday as the Colorado Rockies visit the Los Angeles Angels.
Here’s everything you need to know to tune in for the first pitch.
See USA TODAY’s sortable MLB schedule to filter by team or division.
What time is Colorado Rockies vs Los Angeles Angels?
First pitch between the Los Angeles Angels and Colorado Rockies is scheduled for 9:38 p.m. (ET) on Tuesday, Jun. 02.
How to watch Colorado Rockies vs Los Angeles Angels on Tuesday
All times Eastern and accurate as of Tuesday, June 2, 2026, at 6:33 a.m.
Watch MLB all season long with Fubo
MLB regional blackout restrictions apply
MLB scores, results
MLB scores for Jun. 02 games are available on usatoday.com . Here’s how to access today’s results:
See scores, results for all of today’s games.
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