Buena Vista trims community grants, reallocates funds to co-response and adds environmental-testing line item

The Buena Vista Board of Trustees continued its 2026 budget hearing Nov. 25 and approved a package of reductions and reallocations aimed at preserving core public-safety and community services.

Staff presented two alternatives for community-support spending; after public comment from representatives of the Chaffee County Community Foundation and local nonprofits, trustees approved "Alternative 1," which reduces some grants and reallocates funds. In a separate motion, trustees voted to reduce the town—9s direct contribution to the Chaffee County Economic Development Corporation (EDC) from $15,000 to $0. Several trustees said the decision reflected questions about transparency and return on investment; others cautioned about the EDC—9s regional role.

Trustees then voted to reallocate savings and other reductions to increase the town—9s contribution to the county—9s co-response (behavioral-health co-responder) program to $32,500 (a $25,000 baseline plus reallocated funds). Board members described the program as a public-safety and health service priority that can be scaled to funding available from participating jurisdictions.

Separately, after public comment from Tom Brown about historical smelter slag and possible chromium contamination near River Park and the Old Town Dump, trustees added a $2,500 environmental due‑diligence line item to budget professional-fees/engineering (for preliminary testing and coordination with CDPHE). Town staff said prior testing and public-water monitoring had not shown acute problems but that additional targeted testing and coordination with the Colorado Department of Public Health & Environment would be appropriate.

Trustees continued the public hearing to Dec. 9 for final budget action and to allow staff to refine fee schedules and capital transfers.