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Community colleges get boost as Amendment 50 passes

By James Paton, Rocky Mountain News (Contact)

Published November 4, 2008 at 8:31 p.m.
Updated November 4, 2008 at 8:31 p.m.

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Colorado voters approved Amendment 50, deciding that the funding needs of the state's community colleges outweigh the concerns about higher-stakes gambling.

The initiative gives residents of Black Hawk, Central City and Cripple Creek the chance to raise betting limits to $100 from $5, add craps and roulette, and expand casino hours. Voters in 1990 approved limited-stakes gambling in the former mining towns.

Proponents spent more than $7 million, mostly from Las Vegas-based casino companies, to tout its benefits. More than three-quarters of the added tax revenue would go to the community colleges. The rest of the money would flow to the towns and counties to cover "impact" costs such as police and roads.

"I think we'll get to the finish line," Amendment 50 spokeswoman Katy Atkinson said before the polls closed. Opponents, including Colorado Attorney General John Suthers and the lobbying arm of Christian nonprofit Focus on the Family, raised concerns about the potential effects. Some worried the move would give casino companies and investors an incentive to try to expand gambling further and would lead to a rise in foreclosures, bankruptcies, crime and other problems.

"At this point, it's a lot closer than the poll suggested. Given that, I remain optimistic," said critic Scott Yates as vote counts trickled in, referring to a survey that showed 64 percent of voters in favor of the measure.

Critics complained Amendment 50 was "paid for" by big out-of-state casinos and questioned whether the three towns would spend the extra tax revenue prudently. The measure would send 22 percent of proceeds to the three cities and Gilpin and Teller counties.

Now, half of the tax dollars go to the state's general fund, with 22 percent covering impact costs and 28 percent for the historical society. The towns receive some of the historic preservation funds. None of the new tax revenue would go toward preservation if Amendment 50 passes.

The backers had a highly organized, well-funded campaign. In ads, they pointed out that Colorado already has gambling and that the measure would simply give the state the ability to maximize the revenue it receives while limiting casinos to the three former mining towns. The change would update what they said are the most restrictive gambling laws in the nation.

They said they aligned themselves with the community colleges because of the role the schools play in boosting Colorado's economy and because of the funding shortfall colleges face.

Black Hawk, Central City and Cripple Creek would hold their own separate elections on specific changes after the statewide vote.

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