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Summit County Voters To Weigh In On Workforce Housing Fund

By Matt Kroschel

SUMMIT COUNTY, Colo. (CBS4)- Voters in one resort community will be asked to pay for more affordable workforce housing through an increase to sales tax.

The Board of Directors of the Summit Combined Housing Authority voted to place a funding question on the November 2016 ballot that would pay for construction of affordable housing units.

If approved by Summit County voters, the measure would raise about $7.8 million per year through a 0.6 percent sales tax that would sunset after 10 years, according to housing authority officials.

Summit County Housing
(credit: CBS)

Summit County Commissioner Karn Stiegelmeier told CBS4, "We are hearing serious concerns from large employers and small business owners, entry-level workers and skilled professionals, young newcomers and longtime locals. The time to act is now, because the need is only growing."

According to data provided by the county, the most recent needs assessment of the local housing market, published in 2013, identified a gap of 1,035 to 1,785 housing units for the Summit County workforce over the following five years.

Silverthorne Mayor Bruce Butler said when the average price of a single-family home is over $700,000, it's hard for young workers and entrepreneurs to think of Summit County as a great place for them to launch a career, start a family or establish long-term bonds to the community.

If approved by voters, the tax funds would be used for construction on several projects already in the works.

Matt Kroschel covers news throughout Colorado working from the CBS4 Mountain Newsroom. Send story ideas to mrkroschel@cbs.com and connect with him on Twitter @Matt_Kroschel.

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