When Pueblo City Hall has to ask voters to let it keep excess tax revenue – as would be required under the state’s constitutional taxing and spending limits – you know Colorado’s economy has been booming. It looks like that boom finally has trickled down to the long-struggling community.

Reports the Pueblo Chieftain’s Peter Roper:

Pueblo’s economy has shaken off the lethargy from the national recession because City Manager Sam Azad is warning City Council it could have to authorize a tax refund to city residents in 2018.

After years of leaving city jobs vacant and cutting spending, council saw city revenues start to grow again 2015 when city sales tax revenues rose by 7 percent and there was more of the same in 2016.

Right now, Azad is forecasting an increase of about $6 million in revenue in 2018 and that would be more than state revenue limits would allow – unless city voters agreed to let the city keep any excess.

Whether the council decides to go to voters or just refund the money, for the moment, it’s savoring the windfall – the product of higher property-tax revenue and booming marijuana sales-tax collections, among other sources.

The financial turnaround clearly suits council, which discussed increasing city support to a list of organizations Monday night.

For example, the Greater Pueblo Chamber of Commerce has been getting $375,000 in city assistance, but Council President Steve Nawrocki recommended that go up to $475,000 next year.

Similarly, the Colorado State Fair would get another $100,000 as well, raising the total city contribution to $225,000. …

… it was clear that council’s days of having to refuse local organizations seem to be over.