Salida School District voters will decide this November on whether or not to be annexed into the Colorado Mountain College taxation district. 

Supporters of that measure gathered last night to kick-off the campaign.  The event was attended by local residents and members of the Salida school system and Colorado Mountain College. 

Colorado Mountain College was founded in 1965 to provide college level education to the mountain communities.  Salida is currently in the CMC service area and by joining the taxation district, students and residents would enjoy the benefits of the entire system, meaning in part that students would pay $80 per credit hour instead of $170. 

The main objective of last night’s meeting was for CMC and the Salida School District to hand over the reins of the campaign to the residents of Salida and, hopefully, to have someone step up to lead the campaign.  That someone was Dave Armstrong.  Armstrong has been involved in education matters in the area for years having lead the Salida High School bond initiative in 2010 and has been on the district accountability committee since 2008. 

The Colorado Mountain College Foundation presented the campaign with a $15,000 matching grant to get the campaign rolling.  First Colorado Land Office was the first to give to the campaign, pledging $1,000. 

If the question of annexation passes in November, the mill levy for district patrons will increase by .003997, meaning residential property owners will pay an additional $28.78 per $100K assessed value, commercial real estate will pay $115.91 per $100K. 

More information on Colorado Mountain College and the annexation question can be found at www.coloradomtn.edu/salida.  

In other news concerning Colorado Mountain College, contrary to recent newspaper reports that may have lead you to believe that CMC was withdrawing from Buena Vista, Colorado Mountain College has not and will not change services begin offered to BV students.  CMC offers eight classes in Buena Vista.  CMC merely moved their offices to the Kesner Building in Salida.   

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Dan R

Danny “Dan R” Ridenour has been in radio and television broadcasting for over 40 years, starting as a senior in high school in Rogers, Arkansas. His radio career has had stops in Nashville, Memphis, Oklahoma, and eventually, Colorado. Dan enjoys being involved in the community, having been a member of the Upper Arkansas Service Club and is currently on the board of directors for the Salida Community Center and is a member of the Chaffee County Fair Committee. He and his wife Carrie spend their days doing everything the mountains have to offer: hiking, camping, fishing and skiing. They've raised 3 children and have 2 grandchildren.

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