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Ritter asks lawmakers to consider auto fee hikes

By Kevin Flynn, Rocky Mountain News (Contact)

Published January 30, 2008 at 2:51 p.m.
Updated January 30, 2008 at 2:51 p.m.

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Gov. Bill Ritter today called on the legislature to consider raising auto registration fees to fund a catch-up "fix it now" effort to clear a maintenance backlog on Colorado's highways.

But he said now isn't the time to consider the big tax increase package for expanding roads, transit and highway safety that his blue-ribbon transportation panel has recommended.

"We probably haven't made the case yet to get that on the 2008 ballot," Ritter told a packed Old Supreme Court Chamber at the Capitol during a lunch meeting of the legislature's transportation caucus,

Ritter released the report of his panel, which recommended boosting total state and local spending on transportation by $1.5 billion a year to catch up on maintenance and begin whittling down languishing lists of highway safety projects and road widenings.

The panel packaged its recommendation with a group of four annual funding thresholds – $500 million for the basic "fix it now" package, and increments of $1 billion, $1.5 billion and $2 billion to provide for different levels of maintenance and expansion.

Ritter chose to break out the basic package and ask lawmakers to consider it because it can be done without going to the public for a vote. Fees tied to specific services can be increased by the legislature, while tax increases must be approved by voters.

Maintenance of roads and bridges is a critical need as the buying power of current transportation funding has dwindled over the years and backlogs have grown longer.

"It's important that we do is and do it very soon," Ritter said.

But the governor stopped short of submitting a specific proposal. His panel had recommended an average $100 annual increase in the auto registration fee, scaled lower or higher depending on vehicle weight.

Sen. Shawn Mitchell, R-Broomfield, questioned Ritter critically for avoiding a detailed proposal.

"I'm not hearing strong direction from you about which direction we should go," he said.

Ritter replied that whatever is done needs to emerge from a broad process involving lawmakers and the public, not just from him. While he doesn't need voters ready to approve a tax increase this year, the need to catch up of deferred road maintenance is such that part of the panel's package should be considered this year.

"I've said all along that all these big-ticket issues are long-term, marathon issues," Ritter said. "If we do anything at all, it is consistent with what we've said about having a building-block program."

Rep. Joe Rice, D-Littleton, then challenged Mitchell to work with him to come up with a joint proposal.

"We need some political will," Rice said. "Which bill would you like to sponsor with me to determine where we should go?"

Mitchell said they could talk later about it.

Some lawmakers are working on a bill, but none is reported in the drafting stage yet.

Comments

  • January 30, 2008

    2:59 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    clyde writes:

    Try using some of the REF C money that was supposed to cure all the financial woes. How stupid do you think the sheeple are?

  • January 30, 2008

    3:02 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    AC writes:

    "Try using some of the REF C money that was supposed to cure all the financial woes. How stupid do you think the sheeple are?" -- Clyde

    Apparently pretty stupid, if their understanding of the situation is as uninformed as Clyde's.

  • January 30, 2008

    3:43 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    john16850 writes:

    He apparently doesn't pay for his cars. He realize the fees are already higher then most other states in the union.

  • January 30, 2008

    3:47 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    my3pugs writes:

    Ref C was not for roads, Ref D was. Ref D didn't pass. Taxes can't be raised without a vote which can't occur until 2009, raising the fee which doesn't require a vote is the only way to fund the projects. The governor can't raise the fee by himself, only the Assembly can, so work through your Representatives, that's what they are for. Oh, your Representatives will likely vote for the fee hike, sorry, I guess you must be disappointed. Welcome to representative government, it rarely pleases most people, only it also rarely pisses them off so badly that they change it radically. It really is surprising that a fee increase would be proposed by a Democratic governor since it falls disproportionately on lower incomes.

  • January 30, 2008

    4:18 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    Xerius writes:

    I'd like to see a proposal. $100 dollar increase per vehicle (based on weight....whatever!) That's insane. I'd be willing to bet that most the money goes to bail out RTD. They just claim that they'll fix all the bridges in the state.

  • January 30, 2008

    4:34 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    AC writes:

    Xerious -- you can't be serious! It couldn't go to RTD in any way shape or form. ALL Colorado motor vehicle related fees and taxes must go to highways by constitutional provision since the 1930s. The only money from the trust fund that doesn't go into asphalt and concrete is the allotment to operate State Patrol and truck ports of entry.

    Get educated before forming opinions, eh?

  • January 30, 2008

    4:50 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    italiaboy9 writes:

    You know it really makes me wonder how many of the commentators on RMN make it through life. Seriously. When you climb into your car and drive off your driveway...what is it youre driving on? Is it dirt or is it asphalt/concrete? Pray tell, who paves your roads? Is it you? Or is it your city or state government. I'm just curious where you all think the money comes from to maintain the roads and highways you probably drive on every single day. I understand that many of you hate taxes. We all hate taxes and we don't want to pay them OR we don't mind taxes but we hate what our government does with the money. Fact of the matter is most citizens have absolutely no clue what it takes to manage a government budget. most people can't even manage their own budget. So, I find it rather ridiculous when i read these comments over and over about how people are just being raped of their taxes to go to bail out RTD?!?!?! Are we insane? Would you rather the bridges collapse? Would you rather the roads you drive your fancy cars on sink into the ground? Come on people, when are you going to wake up. I understand that we don't want to pay $6000 in property taxes a year, or 9% sales tax or even higher auto registration fees...but for God's sake..where is the money going to come from? I have an idea, let's get all the homeless and the welfare mommas who are living off our dimes to pave our roads and fix our curbs and reinforce our bridges. That way we don't have to pay them a dime and we can save all tons of money!!

  • January 30, 2008

    4:51 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    italiaboy9 writes:

    ...Oh wait yeh, we tried that already. It was called SLAVERY. Didn't quite work the way it was planned.

  • January 30, 2008

    5:01 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    farsidefan writes:

    No let's not raise the fees ! That's taxation ! When are you people going to wake up and see the realities of govt. The roads are their responsibilty. They have to be fixed, they have to be plowed, they have to have improvements.
    Of course, if you hit a pothole you are the first ones to piss and moan about the bad roads.
    I hope the next time gas prices go up, that somone asks me to vote on that first. Or the next time my cable bill goes up I assume they should contact me first.
    Or maybe the Denver Newspaper Agency will ask my permission before they increase their rates.
    I could go on and on.
    Suffice it to say, we are never happy when the price of ANYTHING goes up.

  • January 30, 2008

    5:05 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    AC writes:

    Dan2 -- Cities and the state already DO prioritize. It's called the STIP. There's a list of projects that can be funded, and those that can't don't get on the list. When one is done, it frees up annual funding for another. There's not enough money coming in over the next 25 years to accomplish all that needs to be done, so expect the quality of travel to decline.

    Also, RTD funding has nothing to do with this. RTD doesn't get any money from auto taxes. It has the metro sales tax, fares and federal funds. People approved the extra tax for RTD rail; if that got cancelled it would not mean one more cent for roads. People voted down roads money two years ago.

  • January 30, 2008

    5:13 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    Xerius writes:

    State government sees dollar signs with this federal stimulus package. Heck with it, just give me the fee. We vote it down two years ago, but they will get our money no matter what. It's a lose lose situation.

  • January 30, 2008

    5:41 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    Devil_Dog writes:

    Actually italiaboy9 it was called the WPA those are the bridges, dams, and buildings that are still standing. Slavery is when a person is owned by another and forced to work without pay. Perhaps these people living off my dime should get a job instead of leeching off society and there would be more taxable wages to support the necessities for all of us, without over taxing the ones who are already paying for everything including those beloved freeloaders. If anyone here is a slave it is all of us who work and pay taxes so the freeloaders can have a good life without the bothersome responsibility of going to work to earn a living.

  • January 31, 2008

    2:56 a.m.

    Suggest removal

    cforevereyez writes:

    Referendum C stated,
    "REQUIRING THE RETAINED EXCESS STATE
    REVENUES TO BE USED TO PAY FOR EDUCATION; HEALTH CARE;
    ROADS, BRIDGES, AND OTHER STRATEGIC TRANSPORTATION PROJECTS;
    AND RETIREMENT PLANS FOR FIREFIGHTERS AND POLICE OFFICERS".

    Where is the Referendum C money going to? Why isn't it being used to fix our roads? A recent article on this topic suggested there is an additional 2 Billion dollars to be collected from this referendum, over and above the amount that was originally estimated. Why isn't Governor Ritter spending this money on roads? We gave them what they wanted, but it will never be enough. Now the governor wants another tax increase? We truely are a bunch of stupid sheep. Baaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!

  • January 31, 2008

    8:58 a.m.

    Suggest removal

    Alive writes:

    Looks like Ritter will need the money for his legal defence. Can you say RECALL?