HomeMy WebLinkAboutResolution-2006-0007
RESOLUTION 07
Series of 2006
TITLE:
A RESOLUTION FOR REFERENDUM C
ACCOUNTABILITY AND TRANSPORT A TION FUNDING
WHEREAS, On November 1, 2005, the voters of Colorado passed Referendum C,
Colorado's Economic Recovery Plan, which provides the State of Colorado With
increased tinancial stability for the next 5 years, and
WHEREAS, Referendum C expressly stlpulatcs that Referendum C dollars be
"USED TO PA Y FOR EDUCATION, lIE-/lLTH CARE. ROADS, BRIDGES, AND
OTHER STRATEGIC TRANSPORTATION PROJECTS, AND RETIREMENT PLANS
FOR FIREnGHTERS AND POLlCE OFnCERS. .. (Emphasis added); and
WHEREAS, Referendum D proposed to rctain 10% of the Referendum C proceeds
to provide bondmg capacity for capital improvements including roads & bndges, school
bmldmgs, higher educatIOn facilities and the fire/police pension plan, and
WHEREAS, after 2011 and for 20 years thereafter, Referendum D proposed to
create a general fund obligation of $1 00 M per year to fund the Referendum D bond
payments, and
WHEREAS, According to a poll of voters conducted on Novcmber 6 by Vitale &
Associates, a slgniticant majority of voters believe that roads, bridges and other strategic
transportation projects are integral to Referendum C funding; and
WHEREAS, According to the Vitale & Associates poll, the defeat of Referendum
D was attributable to general voter concern regarding increasing state debt rather than
priontlzing the funding areas Referendum C speCified, and
WHF:RF:AS, According to the Vitale & Associates poll, 86% of voters believe that
the funding of transportation strategic projects and the repair of existing roads and
bridges is an urgent, high or medium pnonty among all state funding priorities; and
WHEREAS, it IS Imperative that the Governor and the Legislature be cognizant of
the will of the voters and stay true to the pnnciples conveyed to the voters in secunng
passage of Referendum C, and
WHEREAS, TransportatIon needs in Colorado outpace current and future funding;
and
WHEREAS, Colorado's transportatIOn construction budget has been reduced by
over 40% during the past 4 years from over $800 Million per year to the current level of
Just over $320 million per year; and
WHEREAS, additional fundmg is needed to maintain current 60% system ratmg of
good/fair road condition through 2011 at a rate of $300 M per year; and
Whereas, additIOnal fundmg IS needed to maintam current bndge conditIOns
through 2011 at a rate of $62 million per year; and
WHEREAS, an additIOnal $1 Billion per year in fundmg is necessary to mamtam
the operational capacity of the highway system and to make capacity improvements to
alleviate the congestion on 30% of Colorado's urban highways; and
WHEREAS, Governor Bill Owens presented his proposed FY 2005-06
supplemental budget and proposed FY 2006-07 budget before the Jomt Budget
Committee which appropriated a sum of $80 Million from the General Fund and fully
funded Senate Bill 97-1 (SB 1) at $215.3 M, and
WHEREAS, through his budget, the Governor mtends to jumpstart transportation
funding by front-end loading funds m the FY 2005-06 budget years as there will be no
SB 1 dollars available in FY 2006-07, and
WHEREAS, Senate Bill 97-1 allocates excess general fund revenues up to 10.35%
of the proceeds of sales tax revenues attributable to the sales of vehicles and related items
to the highway users tax fund and further reqUires at least 10% of all revenues transferred
to the llUTF to be expended for transit purposes or for transit-related capital
improvements, and
WHEREAS, Senate Bill 97-1 pre-dated the passage and implementation of
Referendum C and is a statutory obligation and commitment; and
WHEREAS, The $215.3 million attnbuted to SB 1 in the Governor's FY 2005-06
supplemental appropriation request is statutorily reqUired and therefore, non-negotiable,
and
WHEREAS, Sole reliance upon SB 1 for transportation funding places
transportatIOn as wholly reliant upon the health of the economy to ensure state revenues
surpass the 6% threshold, and
WHEREAS, the City of Wheat Ridge contams seven (7) separate state or Interstate
highways withm Its boundaries, and the improvement and maintenance of these systems
are Vital to the pubic welfare, economy, and quality oflife of the community;
AND, WHEREAS, an Important precedent will be set in FY 2006-07 for the fundmg of
Referendum C priontles III subsequent fiscal years;
Now, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, THAT the City of Wheat Ridge strongly'
Supports the Governor's proposed FY 2005-06 supplemental budget which
appropriated a sum of $80 Million from the General Fund and fully funded Senate
Bill 97-1 (SB 1) at $215.3 M, and
2. Supports the full annual appropriatIOn of SB 1 proceeds to transportatIOn and
opposes any effort to undern11lle full allocation of SB 1 proceeds to transportation;
and
3 Supports the allocation of at least $ 100 M per year in years III which SB 1 does
not achieve this goalmdependently ThiS goal may be met by a combined
appropriatIOn under the 6% Arveschoug-Bird spending limit, SB 1 allocatIOns, or
HB 1310 allocation.
4 Supports the current HB 1310 formula of 1/3 for state capital projects and 2/3 for
transportation projects and opposes any effort to undermllle full allocation of HB
1310 proceeds, and
5. Supports and Illtends to Identify and build support for long-term, sustainable
transportation funding sources and other viable alternatives, in recogmtion of the
larger Issue of shortfalls in long-term transportation fundlllg; and
6 Supports a strong coalition effort of advocates of transportatIOn funding to work
towards the accountability III the Referendum C allocatIOn process; and
7 Supports the faithful implementation of Referendum C for Colorado's voters, and
8 Supports the appropnate accountability mechamsms to assure voter and statutory
mtent are honored.
DONE AND RESOLVED this 13th day of February
,2006
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J~rry tJiTullio, Mayor
ATTEST