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Hayden planning to hit $1M mark

Matt Stensland

— Sales tax revenues in Hayden are expected to reach a big milestone next year.

“I think it will exceed $1 million,” Hayden Town Clerk Lisa Dowling said Tuesday. “We’re forecasting that we will be bringing in more revenues than what we will be spending.”

The Hayden Town Board typically meets on the first and third Thursdays of the month, but the town was waiting on figures from the county before approving next year’s budget. With those numbers now in, the Town Board will meet at 7:30 p.m. today at Hayden Town Hall to approve the 2007 budget. There will be a public hearing for residents to comment on the proposed budget.



Updated sales tax revenues for fiscal year 2006 show that Hayden has collected about $101,000 more than what it budgeted for revenues.

For 2007, the town is budgeting a reception of $1,052,800 in sales tax revenues.



“That seems to be reasonable given (that) this year we were ahead between 16 to 18 percent,” Hayden Town Manager Russ Martin said. “The reason we are having these double-digit increases is because we are having new businesses that are going online.”

He expects that trend to continue next year.

As part of the proposed 2007 budget, the town is adding another staff position. The position would be split between the Parks and Recreation Department and Public Works.

The Police Department also stands to benefit from next year’s proposed budget. More than $18,000 will be added for salaries and overtime, if the budget is approved. There also is money proposed for a new patrol car, four Tasers, three radar guns and another laptop computer.

There are a number of capital improvement projects planned as part of next year’s budget. A considerable amount of the money for those projects is coming from grants.

The projects include expanding Dry Creek Park, paving the Park Trailer Park streets and Pearl Street to Heritage Center, installation of a sidewalk from Third Street to Sixth Street along U.S. Highway 40 and the realignment of Routt County Road 37.

An additional $200,000 has been set aside for street improvements and $90,000 for a street sweeper.

“It will be up to the board how that will be spent,” Dowling said.

Hayden residents also will pay slightly less in property taxes this year because of rising property values and limits on how much money the town can collect from the town property tax. The owner of a $200,000 home will be rebated about $30 and pay just less than $500 for the year.

The Town Board also is scheduled to:

n Consider $2,225 worth of bonuses for town employees

n Consider a resolution authorizing new Hayden Police Chief Ray Birch as a town credit card holder

n Consider an airport garages re-plat waiver request

n Consider approving next year’s property tax levy

– To reach Matt Stensland, call 871-4210

or e-mail mstensland@steamboatpilot.com


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