July 2009 Population Estimates for the state, counties and municipalities available

The Department of Local Affairs' State Demography Office has completed its Vintage July 2009 Population Estimates for the state, counties and municipalities. 

The new data has been posted on DOLA's website at:  http://dola.colorado.gov/dlg/demog/index.html, select "Population" and "Population Totals" and then the geography you are interested in.  Please note, there have been revisions to the data series 2001-2008 based on revised migration and housing unit data. 

Also take a look at our information release link:  http://dola.colorado.gov/dlg/demog/presentations/2009estimatesinforelease.pdf

State Demographer weighs in on census data connecting economic climate to increase in school enrollment

In today's Denver Post article, "In tough economic times, Coloradans go back to school," DOLA's State Demographer, Elizabeth Garner, comments on census stats showing a connection between the tough economic climate and increased enrollment in higher ed.

You can read more about it in: In tough economic times, Coloradans go back to school, census stats show - The Denver Post http://www.denverpost.com/news/ci_16200855#ixzz10wr1D2FO

Resources and information for those impacted by the Fourmile Canyon and Reservoir Road fires

Below are links to resources and information related to the Fourmile Canyon Fire in Boulder County and the Reservoir Road Fire in Larimer County.

http://www.coemergency.com/ 
http://www.coemergency.com/2010/09/behavioral-health-resources-for.html
http://www.coemergency.com/p/incident.html

Link to Four Mile Fire Info

For  information on the Boulder Fourmile Canyon Wildfire, go to the Boulder Office of Emergency Management website at:

http://www.boulderoem.com/component/content/article/5

Monte Vista Journal Article: State officials take look at Main Street, discuss ways to revitalize core

Monte Vista Journal
Posted: Wednesday, Sep 1st, 2010
BY: SYLVIA LOBATO

MONTE VISTA — Two top state officials took Monte Vista’s pulse Friday and said its heart is good and its main street progress is showing.

  Colorado Lt. Gov. Barbara O'Brien addressed a group of citizens and town officials in 

Central Auditorium  Friday, Aug. 27.

Lt. Gov. Barbara O’Brien and Susan Kirkpatrick, executive director of the Colorado Dept. of Local Affairs (DOLA) as they visited the community, took a walking tour, talked with businesspersons and residents and held a brief public meeting in the historic gymnasium at Bill Metz Elementary.

They visited as part of the Sustainable Main Streets Initiative (SMSI), which is directing state agencies to share information about and coordinate their relationships with participating communities such as Monte Vista, which is one of four Colorado communities tapped for the program.

DOLA, while working with representatives of communities participating in Phase One of the Governor’s Sustainable Main Streets Initiative, will report to the governor, the lieutenant governor and members of the General Assembly.

Standing in front of a series of drawings showing community plans and ideas, both women spoke about the initiative, in which state agencies are coordinating their relationships with participating communities so that more collaborative approaches with local stakeholders can be undertaken to build sustainable communities across Colorado.

The Lieutenant Governor’s Office is providing assistance relating to early childhood services, a P-20 approach to education, citizen engagement in community service and the building of a healthier community.

Kirkpatrick shared her knowledge about downtown deterioration and said Monte Vista appeared to be fending off that problem, for the most part.

She shared the “broken window” theory of downtown disintegration, noting that when one window is broken downtown, it’s easier to break the next window and the next and the next, but when a community avoids the first broken window, it is on its way to recovery.

Successful places concentrate on local assets first, she said, noting that “Monte Vista has fantastic assets,” such as historic structures, a state/U.S. highway and people with creativity and commitment.

O’Brien speaks

O’Brien said the visit to Monte Vista was her second stop in a town with an SMSI. The other town had boarded up businesses all along its main street, save for a couple of stores and a bar.

“The governor and I believe that, if you are to keep what’s special about Colorado, you need to keep the small towns viable,” she said, speaking for Gov. Bill Ritter. “Every town has its own character.”

“Monte Vista is a living, breathing community,” she observed.

DOLA Distributes $37 in Severance Tax and Federal Mineral Lease Revenue to Local Governments

DOLA Executive Director Susan Kirkpatrick has announced $37 million in annual state Severance Tax and Federal Mineral Lease Direct Distribution payments are being made to 506 Colorado counties, municipalities and school districts. The distribution comes from revenue from the Local Government Severance Tax Fund and Federal Mineral Lease Fund.

“These funds come at a critical time when many local governments and school districts are struggling to maintain quality services. This is a boost for local economies and allows local officials to decide where the funds are needed most,” said Kirkpatrick.

Ken Parsons, chairman of the Board of Rio Blanco County Commissioners and member of the State’s Energy and Mineral Impact Advisory Committee said, “This is an important source of funding for communities impacted by energy and mineral production. These funds help communities address the impacts of development, processing, or energy conversion on their infrastructure and capacity to improve the sustainability of their communities.”

The Colorado Department of Local Affairs distributes revenue derived from energy and mineral extraction statewide. These revenues come from state severance tax receipts and federal mineral lease non-bonus payments.

Last year’s distribution to Colorado communities was an unprecedented $80 million and in 2008 it was $32 million. This year’s distribution brings the dollar amount more in line with the historical trend characteristic of these funds. The decrease for 2010 is largely attributable to lower commodity prices, particularly natural gas.

The 2009 distribution was the result of high commodity prices as well as the passage of legislation in 2008 changing the distribution formula.

In 2008, the legislature passed SB08-218 and HB08-1083. This legislation established a new method and formula to determine the direct distribution of energy impact dollars from the severance tax and federal mineral leases. The 2010 annual distribution is the second conducted as directed by these two laws.

Prior to the passage of the 2008 legislation, direct distribution was based on the number of employees in the energy impacted communities in which they resided. The new legislation added the following factors: permits, production, employee residence, population and highway user miles (HUTF).

For a report listing distributions by local government recipients, go to:
http://dola.colorado.gov/directdistribution

# # #