by Clayton Moore

They want more of your hard earned money…

The way things look today (April 2013) it seems likely that the Democrat controlled Colorado State House and Governors Office will have a Ballot question this November 2013 – a proposal to increase your State-wide Taxes – for the purposes of further funding Public Education in Colorado…We’ll see.

What we don’t know today – will our own Eagle County Public School District have their own ADDITIONAL Ballot Question (November 2013) to increase Eagle County Property Taxes, IN ADDITION to the increase being proposed by the State of Colorado?

What we do know…local Eagle County based non-profit EFEC (Educational Foundation of Eagle County) has a recent online Survey (Click Here) – asking folks (among other things) of the likely hood that they would support a proposed property tax increase.  EFEC told the ECT last week that they (EFEC) intend to present our elected School Board with the results of their online survey at the public School Board meeting in the near future.

The ECT looks forward to presenting our readership with those documented results.

Meanwhile from last week -  the Executive Director of the “Vail Valley Partnership” contacted the ECT recently about the ECT’s report (Click Here) questioning the number of Jobs that our Eagle County Regional Airport (EGE) actually produces.

For the Record:  The ECT agrees with Mr. Romer’s point that EGE does help our local Economy…it’s to what degree that it helps (read: Jobs Created)…is what the ECT folks were (and are) questioning…Mr. Romer’s ad in the Daily Fishwrap claims “upwards of 10,000 jobs”.  We don’t think so.

Mr. Romer pointed to a 5 year old (completed 2008) state wide CDOT (Division of Aeronautics) study (Click Here) to support his number.  So the ECT reviewed that study…only to find their beginning numbers (of which all conclusion are based) are indeed based on “estimates”.

From Page 2 – Paragraph 4 (Executive Summary)

ECT FACTOID:  The word “Estimate” was used 37 times in the first 15 pages of this 2008 Study.  ECT counted them.

Final Note:  The ECT “estimates” that Mr. Romer’s claim 10,000 local jobs created by the existence of our local Airport – to be off by more than “one Standard Deviation of the Mean”…  Indeed.

fans the of Sigmund Freud

Schizophrenia (/ˌskɪtsɵˈfrɛniə/ or /ˌskɪtsɵˈfriːniə/) is a mental disorder characterized by a breakdown of thought processes…

In the case of Colorado Tourism it seems…”the left hand” has no clue what the “right hand” is doing….

Eagle County’s representatives in the Colorado State House are – Rep. Diane Mitsch-Bush and State Senator – Gail Schwartz – both of who recently voted to violate your 2nd Amendment Rights that the U.S. Constitution guarantees.

Let’s take a look at some of the additional consequences their recent voting records have caused to Colorado Tourism…(Click on the graphic below to read the entire WP story)

Meanwhile – back here in Eagle County our local “cheerleaders” are extoling the Economic Benefits of “more flights and tourists” flying into Eagle County’s Regional Airport…

Do these people talk to their State Representatives?  Do they know who they are?

Acknowledged:  In general more Skiers use our Eagle County Airport – than Hunters do.

For the record:  The ECT folks don’t believe the number of local Jobs alleged (without any proof by the way) by our local Vail Valley Partnership.  The ECT however will give these folks an “A” for trying.

Schizophrenia?  What is the message a reasonable (prospective tourist) living in another State might conclude from the above information?

Perhaps – A lot more marijuana being smoked in Colorado now that it’s legal…

So…step right up folks!  Here is your and your businesses chance to “join the left hand” –or- is it “the right hand” in discouraging? or is it encouraging? more Colorado Tourism…

Your online comments are welcome here at the ECT.

by  Clayton Moore

It’s time to ask the question Eagle County Realtors…

All points considered – are our local Real Estate sales being hurt by the current state of Colorado’s Politics?

Land Title’s (Trevor Theelke’s) Real Estate report (Click Here) for the first month of 2013 shows that only 28% of Eagle County’s Real Estate sales – were folks living (read: bringing in money) from outside of Eagle County.

Granted:  One month’s stats does not necessarily constitute a new market trend.

Consider:  Most folks who join organizations in their Community (Rotary, Lions, Foundations, Habitat for Humanity etc.) – look for other “like minded folks” interested in working on topics of mutual interest.  Fact is:  for people joining Community organizations – like minded folks tend to attract and keep other like minded folks.  Arguably, wealthy Real Estate investors (and everyone else the ECT will argue) would invest in a Community they would be comfortable living in…

Which brings us to Colorado’s recent and well-publicized political climate.

- Coloradans can now get ‘legal’ access to the so called ‘medical marijuana’ thanks to our very liberal State Legislature.  The vast majority of other States – don’t have legal access to any ‘medical marijuana’.

-  Most States (not all) have a more balanced State legislature – Colorado has a State House, Senate and Governor – all run by liberal Democrats.

-  Most States have not passed (nor seem to be interested) in passing new laws that restrict your Rights – provided to all law abiding citizens by the 2nd Amendment to the Constitution of the United States.  Colorado (our State Legislature) sees things differently.

- The approximate Gay Population in the United States is about 3.4% (Click Here).  The current Speaker in Colorado’s State House is Mark Ferrandino (D) an openly Gay individual.  Included in Speaker Ferrandino’s recent legislative “achievements” is killing a Bill that would have brought the discussion of the so called “Jessica’s Law’” to the State House floor for DEBATE.  Jessica’s Law – has been adopted by 44 U.S. States as of this writing.  More States are expected to adopt that law.  Jessica’s Law – is designed to protect our children from Sexual Predators and reduce a Predators chance to reoffend.

- Eagle County (local politics)  – The Town of Vail was Sued last year in District Court because wealthy homeowners (the Plaintiff’s) private property near the 18th green of the Vail Golf course believe that the TOV is violating the original legal covenants dictating specific uses for the Golf Course land (and clubhouse) that the Golf Course currently occupies.  Knowing this…how might a prospective Real Estate investor feel about the TOV’s respect for Private Property Rights?  That 2012 lawsuit continues today.

- Eagle County (property taxes)  November 2012 – a majority of voters in the Eagle River Fire Protection District foolishly approved a permanent property tax increase – the majority voters it seems unable, to comprehend that a permanent tax increase DOESN’T GUARENTEE any better fire protection.  A clear victory of “hope” vs. “clear thinking” voters in an otherwise… very liberal electorate.

-  Eagle County (more property tax increases ahead?)  Some Eagle County voters were very recently polled by (EFEC’s Survey – click to take survey) – Educational Foundation of Eagle County – to determine the likelihood that our Eagle County Public School District could get another permanent Property Tax increase passed in November 2013…

The Good News:  ECT folks continue to believe that Eagle County’s current Real Estate market is better – than the one in Cyprus today, notwithstanding Cyprus’s recently overburdened ATM machines…

ECT’s Point:   There are other locations (Western States) for wealthy (2nd home owners? et al) to invest their hard earned dollars.  Folks don’t buy into a neighborhood they’re not comfortable with, now do they?  Know anybody buying their 2nd home in inner city Detroit?

The ECT folks aren’t comfortable with the direction of Eagle County’s Real Estate nor our individual Eagle County Real Estate values – looking ahead.  The ECT doesn’t believe that “the sky is falling” however our photo below from last summer in Eagle County – pretty much sums up our current view of what’s ahead in County Real Estate sales and overall Property values affecting all of us…

For the most part it seems – Vail’s liquor stores are doing a reasonable job of controlling underage purchasing…not so it would appear – with some of Vail’s Restaurants and Bars…

ECT NOTE:  We don’t believe you should have to “answer a question online” in order to read this story online…however our Daily Fishwrap (online) does.  So the ECT folks just linked to the same story from the Denver Post from Saturday, March 23rd 2013.

by Peter Parker

No question.  The last week of January 2013, brought us the most amount of Snow in a week – so far this year.

And for those who pay attention…a remarkable Sunset on the last day of January 2013.

Just click on the photos to enlarge them!

Cordillera – High on Right Ridge below