Crews are working to improve access to and from Rocky Mountain National Park with the Downtown Estes Loop Project.
Lodging Tax Exploration Task Force
Meetings & Minutes
The Lodging Tax Exploration Task Force has sunset. A final report was presented to the Board of County Commissioners, Town of Estes Park Trustees and Visit Estes Park Board of Directors on August 1, 2022. See the final report.
Past Meetings
- May 18, 2022 — Task Force Meeting #1 Video, Minutes
- May 25, 2022 — Task Force Meeting #2 Video, Minutes, Summary
- June 1, 2022 — Task Force Meeting #3 Video, Minutes, Summary
- June 8, 2022 — Task Force Meeting #4 Video, Minutes, Summary
- June 15, 2022 — Task Force Meeting #5 Video, Minutes
- June 22, 2022 — Final Task Force Meeting Video, Minutes, Summary
- August 1, 2022 — Joint Meeting on the outcomes of the Lodging Tax Exploration Task Force Video, Minutes
Members
Advisory members
- Jody Shadduck-McNally, Larimer County Commissioner
- Laura Walker, Larimer County
- Alea Rodriguez, Larimer County
- Scott Webermeier, Town of Estes Park Trustee
- Cindy Younglund, Town of Estes Park Trustee
- Jason Damweber, Town of Estes Park
- Visit Estes Park Board of Directors
- Adam Shake, Estes Park Economic Development Corporation
Voting members
- Michael Andrzejek, Elk Meadow And Spruce Lake RV Parks
- David Batey, Estes Park Health Board of Directors, Estes Park EDC Strategic Planning Committee, Historic Stanley Home Foundation Board, Estes Park Trail Gazette Editorial Board
- Austen Bierl, Estes Park Resort, Mountain Village Management and Voyago Vacation Rentals
- Dan Centurione, Estes Park Housing Authority
- Teresa Commerford, Stonebrook Resort
- John Cullen, The Stanley Hotel, Grand Heritage Management LLC and Grand Holdings
- Pep Dekker, EstesPark.com
- Richard James, Mountain Rendezvous Vacation Rental
- Dzidra Junior, YMCA of the Rockies
- Laurie Dale Marshall, EVICS Family Resource Center
- Trevor Scott McGuire, Elkhorn Law Office
- Michael Romero, Estes Park Trail Gazette
- Greg Rosener, SkyRun Estes Park
- Suzanne Smikahl, WorldMark Estes Park
- Seth Smith, Ponderosa Realty & Management
- Scott Thompson, Thompson Group/Keller Williams
Community Consultation Committee
- Maria Brownell, vacation home owner
- Bob Fixter, Fall River Lodge
- Marvin R Hart, vacation home owner
- Gerald Mayo, Estes Park Team Realty
- Lowell Richardson, PMI Estes Park
- Becky Robbins, vacation home owner
Research & Resources
Please find a list of relevant studies, data and resources reviewed by the Lodging Tax Exploration Task Force and the Visit Estes Park Board of Directors.
Resources
Housing
- Housing Needs Assessment (2016)
- 2016 Housing Needs Assessment Recommendations
- Housing Authority Possible Use for Fees letter to Town Trustees
- Housing Needs vs. Construction from the Estes Park Housing Authority
- HB22-1282 - The Innovative Housing Incentive Program
- Vail Resorts fights Town of Vail on Affordable Housing
- Peak View Costs, Sources, Uses
- Registered vacation homes in town limits
Childcare
- Childcare Needs Assessment (2018)
- Dedicated Larimer County Funding for Early Childhood Exploratory Work Final Report
- 2017-18 CO Child Care Market Rate Study
- Hunt Institute-Early Childhood Landscape Colorado
- Price of Child Care in Colorado
Taxes & Funding
- Colorado Tax Rates
- CO DMO Funding Matrix
- 150 urban Center Lodging Tax Rates
- Consolidated Sales Tax and Lodging Tax rates - CO
- Visit Estes Park Lodging Tax Collections Since 2015
- Stifel Public Finance presentation
- Changes in Lodging Taxes over the Past 5 Years table
- Room tax collections with annual analysis
Studies & Reports
- CHTF Report and Recommendations
- The effect of lodging tax increases on US destinations
- The Rise and Fall of Colorado Tourism
- Visit Estes Park 2021 Annual Report
- VIDEO: Interview on Changes in Lodging Taxes Over Past 5 Years
- Report: Changes in Lodging Taxes in Colorado Destinations in the Past 5 Years
- Census Profile for 80517 Zip Code
Draft Plans for Reference
- Visit Estes Park Lodging Tax Exploration Task Force Using HB22-1117 Funding for Workforce Housing and Childcare, A Draft Model of Plans for Discussion
- Organizational Plan for the Use and Management of HB22-1117 Funds
- Early Care and Education in Estes Park
- After the Visit Estes Park Lodging Tax Exploration Task Force: Some Thoughts on Next Steps
- Summary of What Could be Created at Varying Bed Tax Increase Via Leverage thru Bonding Different Bed Tax Income Streams
What is the Lodging Tax Exploration Task Force?
Larimer County, the Town of Estes Park, and the Estes Park Local Marketing District (a.k.a. Visit Estes Park) are working together to help ensure that community members have access to affordable workforce housing and childcare options. One of the most significant barriers to ensuring this access is a consistent and meaningfully-sized funding mechanism.
During the 2022 Colorado Legislative Session, a mechanism has emerged for the Estes Park Local Marketing District, in collaboration with Larimer County and the Town of Estes Park, to expand the use of local lodging tax revenue to address gaps in the need for workforce housing and childcare.
Known as HB22-1117, the Colorado House passed the bill in February and the Colorado Senate passed it in March. The governor signed the bill into law on March 31, 2022. The bill is scheduled to become law 90 days after the end of the legislative session. For the legislation to be applicable to the local community, there must be a ballot initiative where voters in the local marketing district decide whether to authorize the use of new or existing lodging tax revenue for investments in workforce housing and childcare.
In response, a Lodging Tax Exploration Task Force has been formed in order to foster regional coordination and cooperation and to:
- Provide an organizational framework to ensure effective communication and coordination among representatives of Larimer County, the Town of Estes Park, the Local Marketing District, lodging partners, workforce housing and childcare advocates and other local leaders in the district.
- Serve as a vehicle for the collection and exchange of information and expertise and representation of the interests of the residents and businesses inside the Estes Park Local Marketing District boundaries.
- Provide a forum to identify, discuss, study and collectively endorse solutions to regional workforce housing and childcare initiatives for consideration by the Board of County Commissioners, Town of Estes Park Board of Trustees and Visit Estes Park Board of Directors.
- Present recommendations to Visit Estes Park Board members, Town of Estes Park Board of Trustees, and the Board of County Commissioners for consideration.
Questions?
Contact Rachel Ward Oppermann, Senior Manager of Community Relations & Sustainability: rachel@visitestespark.com or 970-586-0500x 1221.
