Mayor of Pueblo Nick Gradisar released the State of the City address and final report for 2021 online for citizens of Pueblo to view. Each year the Mayor of the City of Pueblo is responsible for producing a report that details the state of the city, the progress against previous goals and plans for the upcoming year.
Mayor Gradisar delivered his address online due to the pandemic and can be found here or on the City of Pueblo website www.pueblo.us.
“Ladies and gentlemen, since I became Mayor, we have been and are making it easier to do business in the City of Pueblo,” said Gradisar. “Last year we went live on our electronic licensing and permitting system which will have a grand opening next month. This program will be instrumental in the Pueblo Mean Business initiative, and we expect that in the next 18 months, Pueblo County and Pueblo West will join the system giving us a regional competitive advantage.”
Mayor Gradisar discussed the response of the City to the COVID-19 pandemic which was accomplished without any businesses shut down in 2021 and few restrictions. He went on to acknowledge the increase in crime across the city and the correlation of legislative actions on the Pueblo Police Department’s ability to recruit and retain officers.
In 2021 Congress passed, and the President signed the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA), which will result in a total of $36.7 million sent to Pueblo. Only half has been received thus far, with the other half anticipated in May of this year. Of those dollars, over $7 million have been allocated across the city in the non-profit, community resilience, small business, individuals and households, youth and infrastructure pillars.
The Mayor also spoke of the most important matter to many Puebloans which is street repairs. Ballot Issue 2A was passed in November of 2021 by a 72% vote which debruces the City of Pueblo in perpetuity and allows excess Tabor funds to be used for road repairs. In 2022 $10 million is allocated for street repairs.
In 2021, there were over 669 new sales tax licenses issued in the City of Pueblo, which signifies increased economic activity. Approximately 63% of the City’s budget comes from sales tax.
“I am honored to serve as the Mayor of Pueblo during these unprecedented times and am looking forward to our continues recovery and growth,” said Gradisar.
Additional information about each of the City’s department’s including Finance and Sales Tax, Pueblo Police Department, Pueblo Fire Department, Pueblo Memorial Airport, City Clerk, Municipal Boards and Commissions, Municipal Court, Parks and Recreation, Planning and Community Development, Public Works, Pueblo Food Project, Stormwater, Wastewater and Community Engagement can be found in the 110-page document online at www.pueblo.us/1294/State-of-the-City-Briefs.