Colorado River District opposes Amendment 52; supports Referendum O
The Colorado River District Board of Directors voted unanimously at its October 22, 2008, regular meeting to oppose Amendment 52, a question appearing on the November 4 general election ballot that would impact funding for water supply projects. The board also voted to support of Referendum O, a measure that would make it easier to petition for a statuary ballot question while making it more difficult to petition for a constitutional ballot question.
The Board opposes Amendment 52's intention to divert Severance Tax funds away from the Colorado Department of Natural Resources and water supply projects and apply the money to transportation projects. The Board believes that the issue of water supply is too important to the State of Colorado for funding to be limited by Amendment 52.
Additionally, the Board opposes putting this kind of fiscal policy, currently the purview of the Colorado General Assembly, into Colorado's Constitution. Amendment 52 seeks to cap the amount of Severance Tax revenues available to the Department of Natural Resources at 2007-2008 levels and limits future revenue growth to the rate of inflation.
The Board's support for Referendum O is rooted in the need to limit questions on the ballot that seeking to change the constitution, a vehicle used more and more to create policy that should be accomplished by state statute. State statute is easier to adapt to changing times than is the constitution.
For more information, contact Jim Pokrandt at (970) 945-8522 x 236 or email jpokrandt@crwcd.org.
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