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Friday, September 9, 2005
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Aurora Water Rates to Rise?
Aurora is hoping to reuse water discharged into the South Platte river by pumping it back to the city for treatment from down river. This is water that has been transferred from the Western Slope and can be used to extinction under Colorado water law. To do so Aurora will need to raise rates, according to the Denver Post [September 9, 2005, "Aurora to vote on water plan"]. From the article, "The process would pump water from wells along the riverbank, then deliver it to a nearby purification basin, where it would seep into the groundwater. The water would then move through sand and gravel to provide further cleansing before being pumped 34 miles south through a planned pipeline to the Aurora Reservoir, according to a document describing the project. The water would then go through a new purification plant before going to Aurora homes and businesses. The project would be funded through rate increases and by bond sales. The first installment of $100 million in bonds goes on sale Thursday and was recently approved by the council. It did not require a public vote because it involves no taxes. The project would provide 10,000 more acre-feet to Aurora's water system, said utilities director Peter Binney."
Here's an opinion piece from Chips Barry Denver Water's top gun [September 8, 2005, "Continue wise use of water"]. He praises the utilities customers for conservation (thanks!) and goes on to say that funding for the future is going to be tricky. Barry writes, "Continuing to acquire, treat and deliver clean, safe water to a steadily growing population in a semi-arid environment will become increasingly difficult and expensive. It will require new and innovative approaches such as recycled water, conservation technology and regional cooperation. Denver Water is revising its long-term plan for determining and meeting future demand. Wise water use will play a critical role in assuring that the supplies we have can meet more needs and that some of the consequences associated with obtaining additional supplies can be postponed or partially avoided."
Category: Colorado Water
5:59:15 AM 
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Referendums C and D
CSU President Larry Penley is worried that the university could become a private institution if Referendums C and D do not pass, according to the Denver Post [September 9, 2005, "C and D put CSU 'at a crossroads': Public or private?"]. From the article, "Higher education will lose up to $400 million if the referendums fail. CSU would have to raise tuition 30 to 50 percent to make up for a $100 million cut to higher education, and the university might have to raise tuition up to 400 percent for high-cost science and engineering programs, Penley said. If the referendums pass, higher education will receive a $1 billion boost from the state, he said."
Here's an article from the Pueblo Chieftain about a debate between Jon Caldara and Andrew Romanoff over Referendum C. From the article, "But moments later, he also faulted state lawmakers for not insisting that voters change Amendment 23, which requires an annual increase in the public school budget. It was that amendment, Caldara argued, that had forced the Legislature to make deep cuts in higher education and the Department of Corrections in recent years. 'If you approve Referendum C, you're giving up the only bargaining tool we have to force a Democratic Legislature to address Amendment 23,' he argued. During the audience question period, state Sen. Abel Tapia, D-Pueblo, argued that Caldara should have acknowledged that the Legislature was prohibited by law from offering any ballot changes to Amendment 23 this year. The earliest opportunity would be next year."
Thanks to SoapBlox Colorado for the link.
The Denver Post is fact-checking the ads running for and against Referenda C and D [September 9, 2005, "Ad Watch: Ref C&D pro and con"].
Category: Denver November 2005 Election
5:47:29 AM
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© Copyright 2009 John Orr.
Last update: 3/14/09; 7:45:47 PM.
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