Vehicle-registration fee increase eyed for Colorado roads
By Kevin Flynn, Rocky Mountain News (Contact)
Published November 13, 2008 at 12:05 a.m.
A panel looking for more money to fix Colorado's crumbling roads will resurrect the idea of hiking vehicle registration fees for a special fund for bridge repairs.
A state Senate committee in May killed a bill that would have increased annual fees by $25 for a fund to fix 122 structurally deficient bridges. Since then, four more bridges have made the list.
Gov. Bill Ritter's transportation finance panel last year recommended increasing revenue and spending $1.5 billion a year to address road and transit needs. The first $500 million of the proposal was for a "Fix It Now" program of catch-up on road and bridge repairs.
The panel will meet again today to discuss ways to salvage that first part of the program. The vehicle registration increase for bridges, packaged with another hike for road repairs, was killed in the Senate Appropriations Committee.
"That will be just one of the options that's on the table," said Doug Aden, a Colorado transportation commissioner from Grand Junction who co-chairs Ritter's panel. "What we'll try to accomplish is to see if we want to change anything from the original recommendations."
Last session's bill would have earmarked $113 million for repairs or rebuilding structurally deficient bridges. The remaining $72 million a year, from a separate registration fee hike, would have gone to repairing roads.
Forty-four of the bridges are in the metro area. The biggest project is the replacement of the Interstate 70 viaduct, built in 1964, between Brighton and Colorado boulevards. Replacement is estimated at $800 million.
The panel will revisit other revenue-raising mechanisms as well, many of which would require voter approval.
flynnk@RockyMountainNews.com or 303-954-5247
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November 13, 2008
3:44 a.m.
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roger44 writes:
Instead of running around china, Ritter should get his head out and find the money in the budget. If this guy is elected again, the people in this state are not very smart.
November 13, 2008
6:04 a.m.
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rushrulesbaby writes:
Okay, Tax Ritter, lets take some of that 'for the children' money and put it into roads and bridges. Your education system is bankrupt and should be on the top of the govt. bailout list!
November 13, 2008
6:13 a.m.
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bubba writes:
I have lived here since 1978 and since then the "powers that be" have complained about the condition of the roads and the lack of funds and the need to raise taxes to repair them. What are they doing with the money? People move here, more taxes paid. The price of gas goes up, more taxes in the fund. Doesn't make sense.
November 13, 2008
6:16 a.m.
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VietNamVet writes:
I voted for Ritter last time. I won't be making that mistake again...
November 13, 2008
6:33 a.m.
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VVVV writes:
So a bridge falls in Minnesota and kills a bunch of people and now all of a sudden we have structurally deficient bridges? I guess we should consider ourselves fortunate that the collapse didn't occur here, since they've had tax money since 1964 to fix it but haven't. I'd say they've been frittering away our tax money for too long, and now it's time to cut some unwarranted salaries in the interest of longstanding neglect to cover the costs of repairs. The people that decided to spend the money on widening intersections, or putting in fancy new stop light cameras can forfeit their salaries to pay for the real work that needs to be done. Traffic control is not as important as safety, nor is big brother. I am sick and tired of watching my money going to the government just to be p!ssed away on pet projects.
But no, their plan is just to squeeze you for more money, that I'm sure won't be used to fix the same problem we've had since 1964. When are we going to learn to stop giving them any of our money at all? Oh right, they can throw you in jail for refusing to let them squander your hard earned dollars.
November 13, 2008
7:17 a.m.
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SheikYurBooty writes:
If something has to go up, raise the gas tax, not the registration fee. Gas is so cheap now, no one would even notice compared to the $4 plus we were paying a few short months ago. In fact, eliminate the registration fee altogether and just get those present $$ from a few pennies more in gas tax.
November 13, 2008
7:19 a.m.
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Art writes:
This is a great time to increase taxes, er I mean fees. We are all so wealthy that we can certainly pay more to register our cars, after all it only amounts to a few dollars a month. Most of my friends and family have recently started to ask me what they can do with all the extra cash they have, now I can tell them that they will be able to pay higher taxes, fees I mean of course, for the roads and bridges.
November 13, 2008
7:31 a.m.
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Rick writes:
I lived in the northeast for 60 years and in Colorado for 2 years. Colorado's roads are the best I've ever seen. And the taxes are the lowest. Seems like a well run state to me.
November 13, 2008
7:35 a.m.
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LingLingfor_prez writes:
Before you ask for money, I want to see proof that all cost cutting measures have been implemented and that all the projects going on right now are on time and under budget, then we will talk. Until then, get back to work and stop asking the people for more money.
November 13, 2008
7:40 a.m.
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wyhammertime writes:
Now this is a good example of goverment thinking : The economy is loosing ground ,people are loosing their homes and money is tight. So let's raise fee's now that is real smart shuda chuda wouda comes to mind here but then again look who is running this show !!!
November 13, 2008
8:08 a.m.
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hihowareya writes:
YOU HAVE TO HAVE ROADS, roads that work. Weither they should have been working on them then or they have to do it now.
November 13, 2008
8:12 a.m.
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Fred writes:
I have a better idea…..how about we enforce the laws and REQUIRE all vehicles to be legally registered and make a valid effort to imprison those how think they are too good or too smart to pay up.
Yeah, law breakers, I’m talking about you.
I pay over 3000K a year in registration fees and insurance for my families vehicles. I could reduce that by getting rid of my fuel efficient vehicles, but that kind of defeats the purpose. I need my truck (the biggest expense) and my wife and I both have fuel efficient vehicles. Add a bike to that for enjoyment and fuel efficiency and what do we end up with? A small fortune to register every year.
I’m tired of carrying the load for those that skirt the law. I have two friends that haven’t had a valid driver’s license or a “legally” registered car for 10 years here in Denver yet they drive to and from work every day. I’ve known many more who seem to think they don’t have to pay either. Sure, they get a few days in jail here and there, but as long as you don’t mind playing cards and being detained for a few days you can pretty much avoid the license fees, tag fees and insurance.
I say make driving without a license, insurance and legal tags a minimum of a year. And then require them to pay for the incarceration.
I’m guessing if we collected from the 40% who skirt the law then we wouldn’t need to squeeze blood from the rest of us law abiding citizens.
November 13, 2008
8:15 a.m.
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Scott writes:
If Tax Ritter has to raise taxes, the do it on the fuel tax. The larger (heavier) vehicles tear up the roads faster and also get lousier gas mileage. Hence, an increase in the gas tax would be fair by getting more money out of the larger vehicles.
My Tahoe does more damage to the roads than my motorcycle. Therefore, I pay more for the greater damage that my Tahoe inflicts and l pay less for the lessor damage that my motorcycle inflicts.
Scott
November 13, 2008
8:19 a.m.
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RJS07 writes:
fuel taxes do NOT go up as the price of fuel does. An increase for roads would be a good idea--then the people using the roads pay for them.
November 13, 2008
8:38 a.m.
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SheikYurBooty writes:
Scott - plus if the fees are in the gas/diesel tax, illegals can't avoid them. Right now, they just don't register the car and get away free and easy. Avoidable fees are an illegal's best friend.
November 13, 2008
8:51 a.m.
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fntsymtn writes:
Fred, you pay over $3 million a year in vehicle related fees? Wow!!!
November 13, 2008
8:55 a.m.
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theairdog writes:
This is what the Democrats do. They can't increase taxes because of TABOR. So they look to increase fees to get around it. This is really just another tax increase.
The proposed increase is $100 across the board. This means that if you have an old junker that it only costs $50 to register, next year it will cost $150 to register. Colorado is already one of the most expensive states in the union in which to register a vehicle.
But all you people who moved here from Cali and turned Colorado into a blue state voted for them. Soon, you will make Colorado just as screwed up as Cali.
November 13, 2008
9:03 a.m.
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dcolon47 writes:
3000K a year? how big is your family. I might believe 3k a year
November 13, 2008
9:36 a.m.
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kot writes:
I pay over $500 to register my car in CO, whereas FL, I was paying about $40. I know several people who have their car registered in a different state, simply because it costs so much here.
November 13, 2008
9:37 a.m.
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Marshdale writes:
RJS07; You are correct. This is crazy. I don't have a problem paying taxes for this stuff. It puts people to work. People who work spend money and drive the economy. Especially construction workers with good paying jobs. The only fair way to do this is increase tax at the pump. Coloradans are not the only ones who use the roads. What about all of the tourists who come here every year? Their vehicles do as much damage to the roads as ours do. If it is done this way, then everybody who uses the roads pays, not just Coloradans.
November 13, 2008
9:41 a.m.
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Scott writes:
If Colorado politicians really wanted a fair method of vehicle registration they'ed base the rate on, and ONLY on, the vehicle's weight instead of its monetary worth. A twenty year old 3/4 ton pick up truck is going to inflict a lot more wear on the road than a brand new Chevy Aveo.
But this type of thinking requires a brain, hence it won't happen in this State.
Scott
November 13, 2008
9:53 a.m.
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kodijack writes:
This is a tax, I don't care if you call it a fee, and should not be passed by the legislature but voted on by the people.
RJS07 is right, gas taxes are based on the gallon not as a percentage of the price.
November 13, 2008
10 a.m.
Suggest removal
The_Punnisher writes:
WHERE DID THE MONEY GO???
That is the question that should be asked before any fees ( a fee is still a tax ) are raised.
Playing sleight of hand should be left to a magician or pickpocket...
Or do POLITICIANS fit into the latter category??
We have had the gas tax for DECADES. It was originally set up to pay ALL the upkeep for the roads. AND WITH THE MAGIC OF COMPOUND INTEREST IT WOULD HAVE DONE SO!!!
Instead, the funds were raided for other uses...
The same thing can be said of the ORIGINAL Social Security fund, not the PONZI scam we have today.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ponzi_scam
November 13, 2008
10:33 a.m.
Suggest removal
jay writes:
"So a bridge falls in Minnesota and kills a bunch of people and now all of a sudden we have structurally deficient bridges?"
not really.
our national infrastructure has been crumbling for decades.
not since eisenhower has our nation really made the sacrifice to improve our roads and bridges.
gonna have to happen sooner or later.
and yes...at some point all of our taxes will be going up....seen the national debt lately?
"The proposed increase is $100 across the board"
actually, this is incorrect.
a state senate committee killed a bill this session that mandated a $25 dollar a year hike in registration fees...not $100.
November 13, 2008
1:12 p.m.
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Fred writes:
Yes, I had a typo. it should read 3k.
November 14, 2008
1:05 p.m.
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SL10 writes:
Let's see here people voted no to amendments 52, 58 that would have helped fix our aging highway system. Now people are complaining over increased fees. Ummm, so I guess that highways repair themselves?
November 14, 2008
2:09 p.m.
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AC writes:
bubba writes: "I have lived here since 1978 and since then the "powers that be" have complained about the condition of the roads and the lack of funds and the need to raise taxes to repair them. What are they doing with the money? People move here, more taxes paid. The price of gas goes up, more taxes in the fund. Doesn't make sense."
*You* don't make sense because you don't understand how it works. The gas tax is a flat per-gallon levy and has nothing to do with the price of the gas. It is 22 cents a gallon and hasn't changed since 1991. Since then, the buying power of that revenue has declined with inflation.
You get what you pay for. Right now, you're not paying enough for decent roads. That's OK if that's what you want, but don't imply that CDOT or local street departments have the money they need for today's demands on the system. They don't.