Airport Beats Records and Wins Grants

Durango-La Plata County Airport had its busiest summer ever with a 21% increase compared to summer of 2023.  That’s a 6% increase over the previous record setting summer in 2021. The Durango-La Plata County Airport (DRO) has received nearly $13 million in federal grant funding from the Federal Aviation Administration to support a multi-phase terminal

What’s on the Ballot?

Colorado’s Ballot Questions COLORADO’S BLUE BOOK Initiative 89 – Right to Abortion – a constitutional amendment that would protect the right to abortion Initiative 91 – Prohibit Trophy Hunting – a statutory measure proposing a ban on trophy hunting of mountain lions, bobcats or lynx Initiative 112 – Concerning Eligibility for Parole – a statutory

Business owners push back on Downtown Next Steps

Several business owners spoke at the public comment section of the City Council meeting on August 20th against the Durango Downtown Next Steps project. They said the number one problem downtown is parking, that the Next Steps project was ill conceived, and that the council is being  perceived as non-business friendly. City staff says the project

County to ask voters about tax in November but City will probably not

The La Plata Board of County Commissioners plan to ask voters to reallocate the Lodgers Tax this November.  The question will likely ask if the County will be allowed to use a significant portion of the tax to provide childcare programs and affordable housing opportunities for the tourism-related workforce, seasonal workers, and other workers in

Special legislative session to start on August 26th

Gov. Jared Polis has called Colorado Legislature back for a special session beginning  at 10 a.m. on Aug. 26th to pass an expanded property-tax-relief package and avoid a ballot showdown on the subject. Initiative 50, which already has been certified for the ballot, would cap annual statewide increases in property-tax revenue at 4% and require

County to Update Land Use Code

La Plata County’s sketch plan process is designed to help developers and planners determine basically if a project is the right use in the right place without having to go through a full planning process. But public feedback has been that while it has some value, the process is taking too long and costing too

Groups to Take a Deeper Look at Downtown Next Steps

The City of Durango has developed a focus group to analyze responses to a survey about the Downtown Next Steps project. The group will be meeting in late July and early August.  The preliminary results of a survey the Durango Chamber of Commerce, Local First and Business Improvement District issued recently about Downtown’s Next Step

2024 Local Election Information

Election Information General Election is November 5th, 2024 Register to vote online in Colorado up to 8 days before election You can vote early in Colorado from 15 days before the election, right up to election day. Register to vote in person at the County Clerk’s office up to and including election day. House District

La Plata County Finances and Land Use Code

La Plata County Sales Tax Sales tax collections for February show an increase of $19,098 or 1.02% in comparison to the same period in 2023. Sales tax collections for March show a decrease of -$20,509 or -.99% in comparison to the same period in 2023. La Plata County Lodgers Tax In 2022, new legislation expanded

What’s Happening In Durango and At Durango City Council

Durango City Council Updates City Council voted 3 to 1 to direct staff to pursue the reauthorization of the city’s 2005 ½-cent sales tax with no increase  included in the draft ballot language. There is a proposed  increase in  the sunset period of the sales tax from 20 to 30 years. Councilor Gilda Yazzie voted