The governor is waiting to see what a panel will suggest to fund state road needs. But he's said all options are on the table.
By Mark P. Couch Denver Post Staff Writer
Gov. Bill Ritter declined Wednesday to say whether he would support increasing the state's gas tax to pay for improvements to roads and highways.
The Democratic governor said making any comment would pre-empt the work of the Blue Ribbon Transportation Panel he appointed this year.
"I'm not going to answer that," Ritter said. "The transportation panel is doing its work. Until it's finished, I'm not going to dilute what they're doing by offering my suggestions."
In appointing the panel, Ritter made it clear he wanted the group to consider all options for maintaining roads. In previous efforts, officials were prohibited from considering tax increases.
The Colorado Department of Transportation estimates it will cost $65 billion to sustain the existing system of roads and bridges through 2030. To expand the system to keep pace with population growth would cost another $40 billion.
The department's 2007-08 budget is $1 billion. The total state budget is more than $17 billion.
In addition to the gas tax, other funding proposals that have been discussed include raising taxes on sales, income, rental cars and lodging.
Another idea is a tax on vehicle miles traveled, charging motorists a penny for each mile traveled in the state.
The discussion about road funding has added urgency because of last week's bridge collapse in Minneapolis in which at least five people died.
During the past two years, Gov. Tim Pawlenty of Minnesota twice vetoed legislation to raise the state's gas tax to pay for transportation needs.
In the wake of the disaster, Pawlenty, a Republican, has reconsidered his position.
Lawmakers on Colorado's Joint Budget Committee, which writes the annual spending plan, expressed mixed views about increasing the gas tax.
Rep. Jack Pommer, D-Boulder, said he would support an increase in the gas tax to pay for maintaining roads and bridges.
"For years, the department has been saying that we're underfunding them," Pommer said. "Who knows how many issues we have lurking out there."
Any tax increase would need to be approved by voters because of limits imposed by the Taxpayer's Bill of Rights, an amendment added to the state constitution in 1992.
"We can say it, but nobody has to pay it unless it's approved by voters," Pommer said.
Sen. Steve Johnson, R-Larimer County, said Colorado shouldn't rewrite its budget because of a disaster in Minnesota.
"I don't think a problem in Minnesota necessarily means we've got a problem in Colorado," Johnson said. "We ought to design our budget to meet the needs of our state."
Johnson said he fought with statehouse Democrats this year to prevent deeper cuts in transportation funding. He said some Democratic proposals shifted money from roads to building construction, health care and the judicial department.
"I'd rather see us spend more of the money we've got on transportation rather than raising taxes," Johnson said.
Still, he acknowledged that the state's pool of money falls short of the needs identified by the Transportation Department.
Staff writer Mark P. Couch can be reached at 303-954-1794 or mcouch@denverpost.com.
By Mark P. Couch Denver Post Staff Writer
Gov. Bill Ritter declined Wednesday to say whether he would support increasing the state's gas tax to pay for improvements to roads and highways.
The Democratic governor said making any comment would pre-empt the work of the Blue Ribbon Transportation Panel he appointed this year.
"I'm not going to answer that," Ritter said. "The transportation panel is doing its work. Until it's finished, I'm not going to dilute what they're doing by offering my suggestions."
In appointing the panel, Ritter made it clear he wanted the group to consider all options for maintaining roads. In previous efforts, officials were prohibited from considering tax increases.
The Colorado Department of Transportation estimates it will cost $65 billion to sustain the existing system of roads and bridges through 2030. To expand the system to keep pace with population growth would cost another $40 billion.
The department's 2007-08 budget is $1 billion. The total state budget is more than $17 billion.
That total state budget figure is a little misleading. It includes federal funds and cash funds that pass through our budget, but w have little or no control over. We couldn't just divert them to transportation, or anything else.
The General Fund, which we can control in theory is about 7.6 billion. I say "in theory" because a lot of it is taken up with spending we can't really cut. Medicaid, schools, prisons and other items are huge expenses which are protected by federal law, the state constitution or practical considerations.
In addition to the gas tax, other funding proposals that have been discussed include raising taxes on sales, income, rental cars and lodging.
Another idea is a tax on vehicle miles traveled, charging motorists a penny for each mile traveled in the state.
The discussion about road funding has added urgency because of last week's bridge collapse in Minneapolis in which at least five people died.
During the past two years, Gov. Tim Pawlenty of Minnesota twice vetoed legislation to raise the state's gas tax to pay for transportation needs.
In the wake of the disaster, Pawlenty, a Republican, has reconsidered his position.
Lawmakers on Colorado's Joint Budget Committee, which writes the annual spending plan, expressed mixed views about increasing the gas tax.
Rep. Jack Pommer, D-Boulder, said he would support an increase in the gas tax to pay for maintaining roads and bridges.
"For years, the department has been saying that we're underfunding them," Pommer said. "Who knows how many issues we have lurking out there."
.
In its 2005 report to the JBC, CDOT said a top priority was to: "Eliminate Backlog of Structurally Deficient Bridges." At that time it said 106 bridges across the state were in such bad condition they couldn't be repaired and had to be replaced
A year later, after finishing replacement of Colorado's worst bridge, CDOT Executive Director Tom Norton said: “...there are still numerous bridges that are nearing or past their design life and need to be replaced. We appreciate the support of our local, state and federal partners and hope we can continue to work together to secure funding so CDOT can make even more progress on replacing the state’s deteriorated bridges.”
Any tax increase would need to be approved by voters because of limits imposed by the Taxpayer's Bill of Rights, an amendment added to the state constitution in 1992.
"We can say it, but nobody has to pay it unless it's approved by voters," Pommer said.
Sen. Steve Johnson, R-Larimer County, said Colorado shouldn't rewrite its budget because of a disaster in Minnesota.
"I don't think a problem in Minnesota necessarily means we've got a problem in Colorado," Johnson said. "We ought to design our budget to meet the needs of our state."
That's true and the needs of our state are pretty clear and have been for some time. It's just that no one pays much attention to them until some disaster gets their attention.
We have a comprehensive, detailed report on our state's transportation needs and this is what says:
"The funds presently estimated to be available through 2030 fall far short of being able to meet the needs of the state’s transportation vision. Nor will they sustain the system’s present-day quality and performance levels.
Under the current revenue forecast, today’s approximately 60 percent good/fair rating for roadway surfaces on the state highway system will fall to 32 percent. Local roads will deteriorate.
A growing number of the 8,413 bridges statewide will require load restrictions, increased maintenance or other special management measures to ensure safe conditions for people and goods.
Load-restricted bridges also may force trucks to find longer delivery routes, thereby increasing consumer prices.Efforts to reduce traffic fatalities and crashes will be diminished.
Without increasing capacity or the use of alternative modes of transportation, the percentage of congested miles on the state highway system will rise from 10 percent in 2000 to 25 percent in 2030.
People will pay more for vehicle repairs due to potholes and ruts. In urban areas, motorists will have to leave home earlier to avoid longer and more congested routes. The increased demand for service in 2030 for transit, aviation and local roads will not be met."
There you have it. An assessment of Colorado's transportation system, written by Colorado's former transportation director (a Republican, by the way).
Johnson said he fought with statehouse Democrats this year to prevent deeper cuts in transportation funding. He said some Democratic proposals shifted money from roads to building construction, health care and the judicial department.
We didn't cut transportation funding, we just didn't increase it as much as some people wanted.
"I'd rather see us spend more of the money we've got on transportation rather than raising taxes," Johnson said.
Still, he acknowledged that the state's pool of money falls short of the needs identified by the Transportation Department.
Staff writer Mark P. Couch can be reached at 303-954-1794 or mcouch@denverpost.com.
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