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Eagle County approves millions in additional spending

List includes keeping rents affordable at Eagle Villas and nearly $10M for taxiway rehabilitation at airport

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Scott Miller
  

The Eagle County Board of Commissioners Tuesday approved $6.5 million in supplemental spending that will ensure rents stay affordable during an ownership change at the Eagle Villas apartments.
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Local governments set the bulk of their annual budgets in December or early January. But there are always adjustments to make.

The Eagle County Board of Commissioners on Tuesday made the first of those adjustments, adding several million dollars of spending. That spending is covered either by new sources of revenue, reserves or money budgeted, but not spent, in the previous year.

The spending ranges from small items including $19,000 for a vehicle registration kiosk, to more nearly $10 million for the rehabilitation of Taxiway A at the Eagle County Regional Airport. About 90% of the airport project is being paid for by the Federal Aviation Administration.

All of that spending has to comply with state law, including the 1992 Taxpayer Bill of Rights amendment to the state constitution. That amendment limits government tax and spending increases.

Among the bigger items is $6.5 million for the Eagle Villas apartments. County finance director Anna Earl said that funding is for loan and acquisition fees as part of a complex deal being built by Denver-based Ulysses Development Group. That firm is buying the 120-unit complex in Eagle to keep the apartments affordable to those earning between 45% and 60% of the area median income. Earl said the county’s contribution will ensure rents won’t increase during the ownership change.

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The county is also set to spend $1.5 million on a project to electrify its vehicle storage facility for ECO Transit. Funds carried over from 2023 for ECO Transit will go toward the purchase and repair of buses, including $2 million for an electric bus and $5.5 million for hybrid bus purchases. Total spending adds up to nearly $9.7 million.

Big items
  • $6.5 million to ensure rents remain consistent at the Eagle Villas apartments
  • $1.6 million for improvements to the Lake Creek Village bus stop
  • $9.8 million for Taxiway A rehabilitation at the Eagle County Regional Airport, with 90% paid by the federal government
  • $2.2 million for the Hillcrest Drive roundabout in Edwards, an amount carried forward from 2023

Other spending includes:

  • $707,000 for fleet vehicle replacement. That spending will be partially offset by an anticipated $120,000 from the sale of vehicles from the current fleet.
  • $150,000 for the spray park at Freedom Park in Edwards
  • $58,000 for roof replacement at the exhibit hall at the Eagle County Fairgrounds
  • $50,000 for snow removal equipment at the airport

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