Photo: A check for $4235 — remaining funds from Pagosa Sewer Solutions campaign committee — was presented by PSS Treasurer Clifford Lucero to Barbara Hendricks, the executive director for Friends and Neighbors in Need (FaNiN). Also in the picture are Pastor Ken Daniell (CUMC), Deacon Wendy McAllister (St. Patrick’s), Gabriel Hendricks and Leonard Martinez (IHM/JPII). Photo courtesy FaNiN.
By Leonard Martinez
The Pagosa Springs non-profit Friends and Neighbors in Need (FaNiN) met with their advisors on December 2 and unanimously agreed to administer a voucher program in connection with the Modesto Montoya Community Support Memorial Fund.
What is the Modesto Montoya Memorial Fund and how did it come about?
In 2024, As the Town of Pagosa Springs looked at the costs associated with supporting a comprehensive sewer solution for the Pagosa Springs Sanitation General Improvement District (PSSGID), which for the most part serves town residents, schools and businesses that live within the downtown area. The projected costs were in the $80-100 million range. If the residents were to cover these projected costs, the monthly sanitation rates would be on a ramp starting at $59 a month, increasing to $71 in 2025 and to a projected $76 in 2026.
Using the model of the Roaring Fork Engineering Company, the early rate ramp would continue to increment until it would exceed $200 a month. While the 2025 rate was approved and implemented, it also became obvious all options needed to be explored. In fact, it was discovered some residents on fixed incomes were having difficulty absorbing the $12 increase from $59 to $71.
The TOPS created listening sessions to review options (property tax, sales tax or the increasing of monthly rates) as well as listening to new ideas. The preferred option was a long term 1% sales tax applied to all the business transactions in the town city limits to support a comprehensive solution for our entire community. This would generate the funds in a 25–to-30-year time frame but it would also cost a family of four an estimated $15 a month in additional monthly expenses for groceries.
Friends and Neighbors in Need (FaNiN) stepped in to offer to pay the difference between the $71 monthly rate and the new higher monthly rates for those having trouble paying these costs. The idea of helping those that need emergency help, came about in the listening sessions but was not adopted as a part of the campaign. FaNiN’s mission on the other hand, is to offer emergency support and, in a community where the estimated ‘living wage’ is 76% higher than the actual average wage, it is foreseeable those families already living on the edge could use support.
In the process of the campaign for garnering support for Ballot Measure 2A, the 1% sales tax, Pagosa’s past was discussed and visited numerous times. In that context, one man continued to come up as exemplifying what it was like to be supported, as our town developed and implemented and maintained its first sanitation system.
The respect and admiration of those that lived through that time, where Modesto Montoya used limited resources as well as volunteers, showed a level of understanding, and where his extraordinary support for our community was recalled by many of the pioneer families in Pagosa, made it clear he should be recognized not only for what he did for our community but how he did it.
Several who cared deeply about the outcome of the 2A campaign very generously donated resources for the campaign to the Pagosa Sewer Solutions campaign committee. At the conclusion of the campaign, not all the funds were expended in the successful campaign. The Pagosa Sewers Solution Committee had the opportunity to return, proportionally, what was left over to those generous donors. Each donor was approached with an option of using the remaining funds to begin a fund to help those that needed emergency support. Unanimously, they have all agreed to use the remaining resources as the seed fund for this effort.
Who are Friends and Neighbors in Need and how will this fund be administered?
Friends and Neighbors in Need completed its first year of operation in September 2025. FaNiN’s formation resulted from several faith-based communities — St. Patrick’s Episcopal Church, the Community United Methodist Church, and the IHM/JPII Catholic Community — being called on to provide help and support to those in need. Looking at what was available in terms of resource, it was discovered there is no place in Archuleta County to provide emergency support for our friends and neighbors in need.
Two operating principles were established at FaNiN: The dignity and respect for the person/family needing help is paramount and relying on the principles espoused in Bridges Out of Poverty would be deployed. The Community Foundation of SW Colorado agreed to be the fiscal agent. A $12,000 annual budget was determined and the LPEA Round Up Foundation provided $10,000 to help get the nonprofit started. In terms of operating norms and because of the mission space, which is to provide emergency support, FaNiN operates based on finding folks in need, one phone call to determine if the need is an emergency and because resources have been distributed in the form of gas/food cards and vouchers, resource is released with advice where to go to get systemic support.
Someone being unable to pay their full sanitation bill would be an example of the kind of emergency FaNiN would support.
As an example of the partnerships operating with FaNiN, if a month or several months were the issue, then the person would be referred to the Pagosa Outreach Connection or the Department of Human Services. By the same token, the POC, Archuleta Seniors Inc, Rise Above Violence, PCI and DHS refer folks to FaNiN to address emergency situations.
FaNiN has established systems that could be applied to this fund. FaNiN has purchased showers from the Community Center, meals from Archuleta Seniors. Inc, and gas/food cards that compliment what the faith-based communities offer to those in need. In this case, the funds will be placed with the Town. $25 vouchers would be administered by FaNiN or its partners. The net effect would be the person would pay $46 of the monthly rate, and the town will draw from the fund placed with the Town for the $25 voucher. The Town has agreed not to increase the rate to $76 next year, to give time to understand the impact of the new 1 cent sales tax. This will also give FaNiN an opportunity to understand the impact and the need for this kind of support.
In addition, this will bring the monthly rate closer to the monthly sewer rate being charged to uptown residents by the Pagosa Area Water and Sanitation District (PAWSD) which is currently $47 a month.
The startup fund will be deployed beginning January 2026. The Community Foundation of SW Colorado will generate the grant to the Town based on detailed plans supplied by FaNiN. Over the course of 2026, a ‘run rate’ will be determined and will be added to the annual budget needs for FaNiN. Whatever percentage of the total represented by the Modesto Montoya Community Support Memorial Fund will become that percentage represented in FaNiN’s annual budget and the consequent fund-raising campaigns.
The intent is to have this be a part of FaNiN for the next 25-30 years, until the comprehensive sewer solution is implemented, and the benefits are fully deployed.
FaNiN, the Town of Pagosa Springs, and the Modesto Montoya family will meet periodically to assess the impact and the need to continue.
Leonard Martinez is one of the founders of FaNiN, and also a member of the Pagosa Springs Town Council.