The federal government has reportedly shut down, for the time being, due to the lack of an approved budget.
We might be tempted to conclude that “a budget” is the main reason that governments even exist. And to some degree, that assumption is correct.
If I were a Democrat in Congress (which I’m not… not a Democrat, and not in Congress…) I would be tempted to try and prevent the federal government from operating, considering the general direction the Republicans are taking it. Presumably, one way to slow down the Trump administration is to deprive them of funding.
Whether that’s the real reason behind the current federal stalemate, we will never know.
Meanwhile, back at the ranch… this is hunting season in Pagosa Springs. A general knowledge of hunting season dates and safety tips can help keep you safe.
Big game rifle season dates:
Rifle seasons
- 1st season – Oct. 12-16, 2024
- 2nd season – Oct. 26 to Nov. 3, 2024
- 3rd season – Nov. 9-15, 2024
- 4th season – Nov. 20-24, 2024
For safety reasons, big game hunters using a firearm must wear fluorescent orange or pink when in the field (camouflage orange or pink is not allowed).
The annual big game rifle seasons in Colorado correspond to another type of hunting: the hunt for government budget approvals. According to Colorasdo law, governments that use January 1 as the beginning of their fiscal year — which means all government entities in Archuleta County except Archuleta School District — a draft budget must be made available for public inspection on or before October 15 of each year.
In case any of our readers are hunting for budgets…
The draft 2026 Town of Pagosa Springs budget is now available here.
The draft 2026 Archuleta County budget is now available here.
The draft 2026 Pagosa Area Water and Sanitation District (PAWSD) budget is available here.. The PAWSD board will be discussing their draft budget tomorrow, Wednesday October 15, at 5:30pm.
The draft 2026 Pagosa Fire Protection District budget is available here.
The draft 2026 San Juan Water Conservancy District budget is available here.
Readers who pay property taxes to one of the several metro districts in Archuleta County may be able to find draft budgets for those government entities online.
The Town of Pagosa Springs plans to reduce its budget expenditures from $25.7 million in 2025 to a projected $22.1 million in 2026. In spite that reduction, the Town expects to deplete its financial reserves by about $4.7 million. (This does not account for any increased expenditures that will potentially result from voter approval of Ballot Measure 2A.)
Archuleta County has proposed to reduce its budgeted expenditures from $51.6 million in 2025 to $44.2 million in 2026.
PAWSD has reduced its draft budget expenditures from $47.1 million in 2025 to $24.2 million in 2026.
The Fire District is proposing to increase its budget expenditures from $4.4 million in 2025 to $5.3 million in 2026.
San Juan Water Conservancy District plans to increase its budget expenditures from $194,412 in 2025 to $264,335 in 2026.
These budgets are “draft” documents. Our local governments are required to conduct a public hearing before formally adopting their 2026 budget, and are required to take taxpayer suggestions under consideration. Each government will schedule a date for their public hearing, typically in November.
Typically, the taxpayers fail to show up for the public hearings to make constructive suggestions.
Which may be understandable. After all, it’s hunting season…