S T E A M B O AT
TODAY
THURSDAY
AUGUST 20, 2009
Steamboat Springs, Colorado
®
Vol. 21, No. 199
RO U T T
S T E A M B O AT S P R I N G S
FREE
C O U N T Y ’ S
DA I LY
N E W S PA P E R
John Salazar to speak today
Free concert today The Avett Brothers play last show of the 2009 Free Summer Concert Series Page 2
S T E A M B O AT S P R I N G S
Jail sees less inmates Personal recognizance bonds reduce capacity at Routt County facility MATT STENSLAND/STAFF
Page 3
SPORTS
Rockies win, 5-4 Page 23
■ INDEX Briefs . . . . . . . . .10 Classifieds . . . . .30 Colorado. . . . . . .17 Comics . . . . . . . .28 Crossword . . . . .29 Happenings . . . . .7
City of Steamboat Springs Public Works Director Philo Shelton, left, visits with U.S. Rep. John Salazar, D-Colo., on Wednesday while taking a ride on the city’s hybrid bus. The city plans to purchase two more hybrid buses with the help of federal grants, which Salazar helped obtain. Salazar is speaking to the Colorado Water Congress this morning and will visit Yampa Valley Regional Airport at 10 a.m.
Budget troubles worsen Solutions to state’s financial fix will impact Northwest Colorado Brandon Gee
PILOT & TODAY STAFF
STEAMBOAT SPRINGS
Colorado state spending already has been slashed by about $1 billion in the past year, but government officials say even tougher times are ahead.
■ LOTTO Horoscope . . . . .28 Nation. . . . . . . . .18 Scoreboard. . . . .27 Sports. . . . . . . . .23 ViewPoints . . . . . .8 World . . . . . . . . .22
Wednesday night’s Powerball numbers: 14-24-31-43-51 27, 5 Lotto numbers: 2-3-10-13-17-37 Cash 5 numbers: 7-8-10-14-21
Plans to balance the state budget will affect all areas of the state, including Northwest Colorado. The state’s most recent projections show a $318 million shortfall in the general fund budget for fiscal year 200910, which ends June 30, 2010. On Tuesday, Gov. Bill Ritter
■ WEATHER
Sunshine. High of 79.
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unveiled a package to cut $320 million. The plan includes about 100 items, most of which take effect Sept. 1. The cuts represent a 10 percent reduction in spending from the previous fiscal year and include the elimination of 270 full-time equivalent positions, a $25 million cut
to the state prison system and cash transfers from programs that provide grants for projects in Northwest Colorado. “You can’t reduce spending this much without impacting services,” Ritter said in a news See Budget, page 14
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