Lake County commissioners authorize staff to pursue LLC with Leadville Lake County Regional Housing Authority to secure sales tax exemption

Lake County commissioners at a special meeting on Oct. 25 authorized staff to prepare documents to form a limited liability company with the Leadville Lake County Regional Housing Authority to pursue a sales tax exemption for an Oakwood housing project.

County staff told commissioners the exemption would apply because housing authorities can qualify purchases for tax‑exempt treatment; the county would be the majority member of the LLC and the vehicle is intended to secure the same cost savings the county would receive if it bought the units directly.

The change matters because staff provided preliminary estimates showing the sales tax exemption could save roughly $227,000 tied to the purchase of units in the project. Staff also cited other project costs that would increase buyers' prices if taxes were paid,…