Tuesday October 13, 2009

The board of Pitkin County commissioners meet today to review the proposed budget for next year—and there will be some difficult choices to make in order to trim expenses by six percent.  That will mean a hiring freeze and possibly some layoffs.
Staff reductions in the wake of the recession have been the actions taken by communities throughout the roaring fork valley.  The City of Aspen will not be hiring any new employees—-and the town of Snowmass Village will lay off six people.
A key issue today for the BOCC is whether to retain employee benefits at the same level—-which is considered an important part of the plan to attract and keep good workers.   Health insurance costs have increased.  That may mean that current staffers may be asked to pay more for their coverage.
     On the flip side of that dismal scene, the board of directors at Aspen Valley Hospital, on Monday, decided to reduce its expected windfall of 1.25 million dollars next year from property taxes—-a reflection of the good financial standing of the institution.
Working at AVH may be one of the best and most secure jobs around,  so the legal lowering for one year of the property tax income will boost the image of the hospital —-even if the reduction in the mill levy is only through next year.
Business owners in Glenwood Springs are beginning to organize their appeals to elected leaders to prohibit a medical marijuana dispensary from opening downtown.
The owner of Unity Star Jewelry, located at the 700 block of Grand Avenue, Claire Ridgley, says she and other businesses nearby are taking note of the four dispensaries in Aspen, plus two more in the mid-valley—-and their concern is that more dispensaries in the downtown core, (there are now two) may open —-and that, she believes, could negatively impact her business.
The dispensaries supply the drug only to those with a permit to use it to relieve pain from various illnesses, including glaucoma and cancer.
       Despite the legality—-Ridgley says she believes there’s enough support to lobby city council for restrictions to keep the dispensaries from operating downtown.
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