Ouray County governments could turn to lodging tax as a new revenue source for housing, under a new state law freeing up those funds for more uses.

House Bill 1117, which Gov. Jared Polis signed in March, allows local lodging taxes to be used for housing and childcare “for the tourism-related workforce, including seasonal workers, and for other workers in the community.”

Previously, counties and marketing districts with lodging taxes could use the revenue only for tourism-related efforts, incl...