In partnership with
Dennis and Rob sat down with Bill Bell to unpack what’s really happening behind the scenes — from housing affordability and rising costs to downtown development, city budgets, and the tough tradeoffs shaping Montrose’s future.
And one thing becomes very clear: there are no easy answers.
From Retail to Running a Newspaper
Dennis shares how a 19-year career in retail unexpectedly led him into publishing.
Spoiler: he says being a newspaper publisher isn’t a job — it’s a lifestyle.
The Housing Reality Check
Let’s start with the big one — housing.
Right now, market-rate rent in Montrose sits around:
$1,700–$1,800 for a studio or one-bedroom
$2,200+ for a two-bedroom
But here’s the problem…
“Affordable housing” is typically defined as spending no more than 33% of your income on rent.
Based on local median incomes, that would mean rent should be around $1,200/month.
The reality?
That price point barely exists anymore.
Even residents earning what many would consider a “good salary” in Montrose are starting to feel the squeeze — leading to tough decisions like:
Getting roommates
Commuting from outside town
Or leaving the area entirely
Why It’s Not an Easy Fix
So why not just build more housing?
Because it’s not that simple.
Developers often won’t build without incentives, and the city has to balance:
Supporting growth
Protecting property rights
Avoiding heavy-handed policies like rent control
Montrose has only lightly touched rent caps in very specific cases — and even that walks a fine line in a community that values a more conservative, free-market approach.
At the same time, there’s a growing reality:
Wages vs. Cost of Living
Here’s where things get even more complicated.
To comfortably afford a $1,700/month apartment, you’d need to make roughly $70,000/year.
But many jobs in Montrose — even solid, full-time roles — fall closer to:
$45,000–$60,000 annually
Even with rising wages (some service jobs now paying $15–$20/hour), income simply hasn’t kept pace with housing costs.
Large employers are adjusting with:
Higher wages
Better benefits
Lower healthcare costs
But small businesses?
They don’t always have the flexibility to keep up — especially when faced with rising costs and potential wage mandates.
The Balancing Act of Policy
This is where the conversation gets real.
Every potential solution comes with tradeoffs:
Raise wages → Risk hurting small businesses
Lower taxes → Revenue has to come from somewhere
Add incentives → Requires public funding
Cap rent → Raises concerns about government overreach
There’s no perfect fix — only constant balancing.
And that’s something city leaders openly acknowledge.
Where Your Tax Dollars Actually Go
One of the most eye-opening parts of the episode?
How city funding actually works.
Not all money is created equal.
For example:
Funds used for downtown improvements, murals, and business grants
Come from a separate pool (Retail Sales Enhancement Fund)
And legally cannot be used for things like roads, police, or potholes
So when people ask:
“Why are we funding art instead of fixing streets?”
The answer is:
👉 Those funds were never interchangeable to begin with.
In fact, if that money isn’t used for its intended purpose… it just sits there.
Looking Ahead
The episode wraps with a reminder that Montrose is in a critical moment of growth.
The challenges are real:
Housing affordability
Workforce sustainability
Economic balance
But so is the effort behind the scenes to address them.
Future conversations are already lined up — including topics like water conservation, which could play a major role in the next phase of development.
Listen to the full episode now
Huge Thank You to Our Underwriters
Key Highlights:
Wages vs Living Costs (Set C):
Even jobs paying $15–$20/hour or $45K–$60K annually struggle to keep up with rising housing costs, forcing lifestyle adjustments or relocation (48:38-49:58).
Development Challenges:
New housing projects often require incentives, as developers are unlikely to build without financial feasibility — making growth dependent on strategic city support.
Policy Tradeoffs (Set C):
Every solution — from raising wages to lowering taxes — comes with economic consequences, especially for small businesses operating on tight margins (50:36-51:30)
City Budget Transparency (Set C):
Funds for downtown projects and public art come from a dedicated source and cannot be reallocated to infrastructure like roads or public safety (57:50-58:18)
Community Balance:
City leadership emphasizes balancing diverse community needs, ensuring decisions reflect different neighborhoods, values, and economic realities.
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