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Manager: County to end building‑inspection arrangement in 2026; city weighing options amid regional lodging‑tax changes
Summary
The city manager told council the county intends to stop performing the city's building inspections in 2026, prompting the city to consider third‑party inspectors or intergovernmental partnerships; the manager also summarized legislative changes to lodging‑marketing taxes and urged council participation in upcoming meetings.
The Monte Vista City Manager told the council the county has indicated it will no longer perform building inspections for the city starting in 2026, a long‑standing arrangement the manager said has been in place about 20 years.
“Right now, Rio Grande County does all of our ins building inspections except for electrical and gas, and those have to be done by the state,” the manager said, adding that the county collects fees and the city currently retains none of those inspection revenues. The manager said the city faces choices about contracting third‑party inspectors, partnering with neighboring jurisdictions, or otherwise structuring inspection services, and warned that a full‑time inspector likely would not be economical on the city's own budget.
The manager also briefed council on regional tourism‑marketing tax discussions through the Upper Rio Grande economic development council and noted a recent state law change (House Bill 1272) that alters the framework for local lodging‑marketing taxes; the manager said the law may allow increases up to 6 percent and that the regional board is continuing deliberations because one portion of the county may block a countywide initiative.
City staff said they are evaluating options and will return with proposals; no formal council action was taken at the meeting.
