On Monday Colorado Gov. Jared Polis signed a bill that sends TABOR refunds of $500 to individual filers and $1000 to joint filers by the end of the summer if they filed their 2021 tax returns.

Under the Colorado Cash Back plan refund amounts were bumped up from original estimates of $400 and $800 due to final refund revenue data.

If the state exceeds its constitutional spending limit, then it is required by the Taxpayer’s Bill of Rights (TABOR) to refund the excess state revenues as is the case this year.

The criteria for receiving the TABOR refunded money include being at least age 18 on or before Dec. 31, 2021, being a Colorado resident for the entire 2021 income tax year and have filed a state income tax return for last year or received a property tax, rent or heat credit rebate.

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Due to ongoing baby formula shortages across the state WIC has temporarily added larger can sizes of Enfamil Infant, AR, Gentlease, Reguline, and Prosobee to help families find the formula their babies may need. For further information visit www.coloradowic.gov.

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Larimer County is kicking off its process to adopt the budget for 2023 and they are asking residents to get involved.

To learn more about the County Budget you can access the Budget Explorer web tool by visiting .larimer.org/budget/explorer. The site explains who is responsible for developing and approving the budget, the budget cycle, sales and property taxes, includes a capital project tracker and provides a current breakdown of expenses by department or office. There is also a budget simulator where residents can take their own turn at allotting the budget.

Several community meetings will be held with Larimer County Commissioners with budget-specific presentations at Community Conversations beginning in mid-October through early November.

The Larimer County Manager will submit a Proposed Budget by October 15, and the 2023 budget will be adopted on December 14.

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There is another option to get to and from Estes Park and Rocky Mountain National Park this summer with the resumption of Bustang to Estes over Memorial Day Weekend.

Beginning on Saturday, May 28, and continuing each weekend through Sunday, Oct. 2, Bustang will make two roundtrips between Denver’s Union Station, Estes Park, and Rocky Mountain National Park. Passengers disembarking in Estes Park can catch the town’s free trolley to access a variety of locations in town. Passengers riding Bustang into Rocky Mountain National Park will travel to the Park & Ride transit hub on Bear Lake Road. From there, they can transfer to the in-park shuttles with stops on the Bear Lake Road corridor.

Bustang’s only stop in RMNP is the Park & Ride transit hub. Passengers headed to RMNP are reminded to be prepared with food and water prior to arriving in Estes Park. No food services are available at the Estes Park Visitors Center OR at the Park & Ride. In addition, a valid RMNP Entrance Pass is required to enter the park ($15 for an individual pass/ $30 for two or more riders). However, Bustang passengers do not need to purchase a Timed Entry Reservation Permit.

A roundtrip ticket is $10 per person. Children 11 years old and younger ride free with a paying adult. To purchase tickets for Bustang to Estes and a RMNP pass, please visit: https://ridebustang.com/estes-park/.

Schedules may vary depending on weather and road conditions.

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As of February 2022, Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) has been detected in wild birds and poultry across many eastern states. USDA has published all detections of HPAI in poultry and wild birds on the APHIS website.

The Colorado State Veterinarian’s Office is asking all poultry and bird owners to increase their biosecurity practices to keep the disease out of our domestic poultry in Colorado.

Two Red-tailed hawks and a commercial chicken have been confirmed with HPAI in Weld County. No incidents have been reported in Larimer County as of May, 24.

The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment state that reporting sick birds or unusual bird deaths in critical at this time. Residents are asked to contact the Avian Health Hotline at Colorado State University at 970-297-4008 if they come upon a sick bird or birds that have died of unknown causes. If you find three or more dead wild birds in a specific area within a two-week period or if you see live birds showing clinical signs of disease, please contact your local Colorado Parks and Wildlife office.