Colorado Ballot Measure Tags Severance Taxes for Roads, Bridges
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Pueblo Chieftan: Three Republican state lawmakers hope Colorado voters will chose their severance tax ballot measure over Democrat Gov. Bill Ritter's this fall. Their measure, which officially became the 11th to make this year's general election, is designed to dedicate any additional money the state earns from the tax and use it to help repair the state's roads and bridges.To be known as Amendment 52, the idea is in direct conflict with another one pushed by the governor, that would use revenues made from oil and gas drilling in the state and use it primarily to help poor children go to college. Under their measure, pushed by state Sen. Josh Penry of Grand Junction, and Reps. Cory Gardner of Yuma and Frank McNulty of Highlands Ranch, the expected increase in severance taxes over the next few years because of a boom in development wouldn't go to the Colorado Department of Natural Resources, as current law requires. At the same time, Ritter is backing a measure that would do away with an exemption oil and gas drillers currently get off the severance taxes they owe.If that measure is approved - it's still awaiting certification of its petition signatures - it would increase taxes to the state by about $321 million.If both measures pass, they likely would be argued in court, but Amendment 52 proponents say their idea likely would take precedence because it is a constitutional change, while Ritter's measure only changes state statutes.
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