Will There Be Christmas Lights in Fort Collins This Year or Not?

The Christmas lights that light up the trees in Old Town Fort Collins and other locations in the city may not put off that holiday glow come November, if things don't get worked out..

Get the details on the Christmas Light Crisis-- inside!

The Coloradoan is reporting how the three groups that have come together in the past to light up 182 trees in Old Town and an another 159 trees in other parts of the city are nearly at wits end on where the money will come from to get the job done.

Normally, the City  of Fort Collins puts up the first $30,000 of the $75,000 that it costs to put up the lights and keep them lit. The remaining $45,000 has come from the Downtown Business Association and the Downtown Development Authority, but those two groups have had a hard time with their budgets over the last couple of years.

From The Coloradoan:

he DDA’s board has decided the lights should be a lower priority than in the past, and the DBA’s finances are still struggling after a bad fundraising year in 2010.

Marty Heffernan, Fort Collins' Director of Community Service, said it’s possible the city may be able to contribute more than $30,000, but said that’s not a given. He said bids coming in from contractors will help determine the costs for this year. The city has asked for bids on about 182 trees in the core Old Town area and for an expanded area with another 159 trees.

It's still pretty early to start panicking about the Christmas Light Crisis.... but we''ll keep you posted!

---The Coloradoan