Water Pollution Control Revolving Fund (WPCRF) Stakeholder Meetings

The largest state-operated loan program for clean water infrastructure is in the process of updating the rules governing the program.  A process has been underway to evaluate the program’s effectiveness in funding projects that address Colorado’s water quality priorities (protect all designated uses by attaining water quality standards and restore impaired water bodies to appropriate standards) and the ability for the program to fully implement new federal program requirements.

This assessment examined the existing Water Pollution Control Revolving Fund program structure, the procedures for distributing additional subsidy (grant dollars), the project application processes, the new green project reserve requirement, and how the existing ranking system has aligned with the Colorado Water Quality Control Division’s strategic plan.

Four workshops and a have been scheduled between August and October, 2011 to share the proposed changes and solicit stakeholder feedback/input. A final rulemaking hearing scheduled for April 2012 at which time the Colorado Water Quality Control Commission will consider the changes.  Please visit this CDPHE website for more details or contact Barry Cress at the Division of Local Government at 303-866-2352.

Gov. Hickenlooper Announces Payments of More than $54M for Local Governments

DENVER ­— Thursday, Sept. 1, 2011 — Gov. John Hickenlooper and Reeves Brown, executive director of the Colorado Department of Local Affairs (DOLA), announced today $54,655,280 in annual state Severance Tax and Federal Mineral Lease Direct Distribution payments will be made to 506 Colorado counties, municipalities and school districts. 

DOLA distributes the payments, which are derived from energy and mineral extraction statewide. Last year’s distribution to Colorado communities was $37 million.

“This direct distribution of energy impact funds is an important resource for local governments,” Hickenlooper said. “These funds help make vital, day-to-day operations possible, ensure needed public improvement projects become reality and bolster government services offered to local communities.”

“Responsible energy development provides energy for our quality of life and jobs in local communities,” Brown said. “This year’s increase in energy impact funds is a very positive indicator of the health of Colorado’s energy industry.”

Ken Parsons, a Rio Blanco County Commissioner and member of the State’s Energy and Mineral Impact Advisory Committee said, “In these difficult economic times, this is a critical source of funding statewide for communities impacted by energy and mineral production. These funds help communities address the ongoing impacts of development, processing, or energy conversion on local infrastructure and provide assistance in sustaining the economies of their communities.”

Direct distribution is based on the number of employees in the energy impacted communities in which they resided and the following factors: permits, production, employee residence, population and highway user miles.

Click here for a report listing distributions by local government recipients.

LAS ANIMAS COUNTY &

COLORADO DEPARTMENT OF LOCAL AFFAIRS

EARTHQUAKE RECOVERY ASSISTANCE CENTER

Las Animas County is partnering with the Colorado Department of Local Affairs in establishing an Earthquake Recovery Assistance Center to provide informational resources and support to residents affected by recent local earthquakes. 

The recovery assistance center will be open on the following dates/times, and located at the Kennedy/Segundo Senior Center at 24295 County Road 18.3 in Segundo:

2:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m.      August 31, 2011  

8:00 a.m. -  6:00 p.m.       September 1, 2011

Services that may be provided will include:  Q&A regarding homeowner's insurance and earthquake coverage, earthquake preparedness and response information, mental health resources and the coordination of structural stability inspection.  Specialists from area emergency services organizations and the American Red Cross will be on hand to meet with affected and concerned citizens and to offer information regarding local, state and non-governmental assistance programs.

Questions regarding the Earthquake Recovery Assistance Center and its offerings can be directed to the Las Animas County Commissioners Office at 719-845-2568.

For more information regarding earthquake preparedness, assistance and other resources, please visit www.coemergency.com.

For more information on the Las Animas County earthquakes, the Division of Emergency Management has set up a webpage for citizens at coemergency.com. Additionally, for more information about what individuals need to do before, during, and after an earthquake, visit FEMA 530 Earthquake Safety Guide for Homeowners at http://www.fema.gov/library/viewRecord.do?id=1449 and the FEMA Earthquake Homepage at http://www.fema.gov/hazard/earthquake/.

COEmergency.com is a Great Resource for Earthquake and Other Preparedness Info.

Earthquake Preparedness

The Colorado Department of Local Affairs' Division of Emergency Management provides valuable information about resources and messages to help citizens prepare for, and recover from, disasters.

Go to COEmergency.com to find more information about earthquake preparedness.

DLG Launches New Website

The DOLA website is new and improved.  Access to information about the Division of Local Government's services has been designed to be more user-friendly.

DLG's Jarrod Biggs, Tamra Hooper, Tareq Wafaie and Barbara Musick, put in a tremendous amount of time and effort into getting the new site up and running.  We owe a great deal of thanks to them and to other DOLA staff who helped create a site we hope you'll find is less cluttered and easier to navigate.

We would really appreciate your feedback.  Any suggestions on improvement will be helpful in making this the best DOLA/DLG site it can possibly be.

Here's the direct link to the Division of Local Government (http://www.colorado.gov/dola/dlg).

The Impact of U.S. Census Data on Water & Wastewater Infrastructure is Explained in the Spring 2011 Issue of Colorado Rural Water Association Quarterly

The new median household income data provided by the U.S. Census Bureau has raised new interest in this widely used indicator of community economic strength.  To help provide a better understanding of the new data and its relationship to the state revolving fund programs for water and wastewater infrastructure, DLG's Barry Cress wrote an article for the Spring 2011 edition of the Colorado Rural Water Association's quarterly magazine.  The article appears on pages 32 and 33 of the publication at:  http://coloradoruralwaterassociation.club.officelive.com/Documents/CRWA_Mag_Spring_11[1].pdf

 

DOLA and CGFOA to Host Budget 101 Workshops

The Department of Local Affairs (DOLA ) and the Colorado Government Finance Officers Association (CGFOA) are hosting a training opportunity for beginning budgeteers. If you or someone you know needs some basic budget knowledge or just a basic tune-up, take a look. Upcoming workshop dates are:

•  Tuesday, July 26 - Alamosa
• Wednesday, July 27 - Durango
• Thursday, July 28 - Rifle
• Tuesday, August 2 - Westminster

We will also be offering a Budget 101 webinar on Aug 4th for those who are unable to attend at one of the above dates or locations.

About the Program:

• Whether you’ve never budgeted, gone through one cycle, or just want a little better understanding and knowledge of “where to go from here?”
• Whether you’re with a County, City, Town or Special District.
• Whether you’re a Budget Officer, an employee, a newly Elected Official or a volunteer.
• We can relate to you!
• We’ll review Colorado Local Government Budget law, Basic Calendar, Legal Limits on the Budget, and you’ll hear from experienced Budget Officers who have been through the ringer (many times!) and learned “hands on” how it really works.

Registration starts at 9 a.m. and class begins promptly at 9:30 a.m. and will run until approximately 3 p.m. A box lunch will be provided. CPE credits can be earned and a certificate will be issued to those who sign the CPE attendance sheet.

The cost is $20 for CGFOA members and $30 for nonmembers.

Scholarship funds available for this class -- go to http://www.cgfoa.org/scholarship.htm.  For questions or more information, contact Jarrod Biggs , (303) 866-4493.