$277M in state funds go only to “pro-affordable housing” communities under Polis

By Hannah Metzger | The Denver Gazette

Gov. Jared Polis last week followed up on a May executive order that would limit hundreds of millions in state grants to only communities that adhere to new laws on housing, land use and parking restrictions.

In May, the governor had threatened to pull at least $100 million in funding from local governments that have balked at the difficulty of implementing zoning, building codes, and other “affordable” housing changes pushed by the Colorado General Assembly over the last two years.

The executive order defines noncompliance as a nonsatisfactory completion of requirements outlined in those laws, a local government adopting a resolution or policy not to conform with them, or acting contrary to the directives in those statutes.

Polis hinted at an Oct. 6 deadline for state agencies to develop grants and other funding that could be subject to the executive order.

On Aug. 13, he released the list of 34 grants subject to the executive order, totaling $277 million, for the departments of Transportation and Local Affairs and the offices of Colorado Energy and Economic and International Trade.

In that order, the governor said “it is important to ensure that state funds are spent on local projects that lower the cost of living for Coloradans, including housing and transportation costs, and ease the pressure on our climate and natural resources.”

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