- Legislative Alert -
When Colorado citizens voted on Amendment 50 this past November, the historic preservation community thought it was gaining a new cooperative partner in the community colleges, putting proceeds from Colorado's gaming tax revenues to good use. In addition, the State Historical Fund appeared to be further protected by expanded gaming authorized by Amendment 50 while providing much needed funding for the state's community colleges.
Unfortunately our expectations have met with disappointment. The now pending legislation for Amendment 50 threatens the future of historic preservation in Colorado. The community colleges have introduced a bill, HB 09-1272, that will result in severe cuts to historic preservation funding. The State Historical Fund, from which we all derive support, would be cut by as much as 10% in the next five years if the bill passes as drafted. The community colleges are aggressively pursuing the vast majority of future gaming funds. We are working to change this result and ask that you join us by communicating with your legislators and asking them to support the following:
1)
Interpret Amendment 50 as written, instructing the Gaming Commission to separately account for taxes collected from gaming under the existing rules and the revenues from the new rules established by amendment 50. Despite the fact that gaming revenues have historically increased, HB 09-1272 would freeze historic preservation dollars at an extremely low level and would not adjust for inflation.
2)
Demand that historic preservation receive its legal share of new gaming revenue. Amendment 50 provides that current gaming beneficiaries will receive up to 6% of new revenues. HB 09-1272 is written so that current recipients only receive up to 6% of year to year
growth in gaming revenues - i.e. if total gaming revenues are $100 million in 2010 and $101 million in 2011- historic preservation would only get up to 6% of $1 million rather than up to 6% of $101 million. A big difference!
The bill will be directed to various committees in the legislature. The Colorado Preservation, Inc. website will be updated when dates and times of the committee hearings are known. Please continue to monitor our website:
www.coloradopreservation.org. The success of historic preservation in Colorado for generations to come depends on how this bill is amended. We need all hands on deck for this one.
To find contact information for your state legislator, go to:
www.votesmart.org.
This action alert supported by Colorado Preservation, Inc.