Colorado looks to hike fees again

In a clear mismanagement of highway funds. Governor Bill "tax" Ritter is looking at raising the fee to register ones vehicle by yet another $25 dollars. Why, because this current state maladministration can not budget the funds set specifically aside for the maintenance of the states highways and bridges.

There is no doubt that Colorado highways are suffering from a lack of maintenance, yet it is a falsehood to claim there is not enough money to care for the roads. 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. A huge question which falls on Ritter only because he is the current Governor is why has this not been repaired before hand and maintained?

This viaduct was built in 1964, it is now 2008 and looking at the 2009 fiscal year. That is 44 years of what? A lack of maintenance is it not? So now an estimated $800,000,000.00 million to repair is what they are proposing. Then in order to come up with these funds they are wanting to raise our fees to register our cars by at least $25 dollars.

I would like to know just what is being done with the money raised from the tax on fuel which is specifically earmarked to go to highway and bridge maintenance. How many millions are being siphoned off of this fund for what?

Gov. Ritter inherited this problem but his lack of being able to deal with it is going to cost Coloradoans millions. Though the state has major problems with highway maintenance and bridge repair. Ritter shows the typical Liberal fix it ideas. Tax the taxpayer more in order to fund the problem. Instead of managing the budget and maintaining TABOR, this is clearly another way around TABOR and a grab at our money in these tight economic times.


I AM WATCHING.

NOTE:
FY 07 - 08 Appropriations $1,062,132,447.00
FY 08 - 09 Request $1,299,343,852.00

an increase of $237,211,405.00 before the registration fee hike.

http://coloradoagriculture.com/cs/Satellite?blobcol=urldata&blobheader=application%2Fpdf&blobkey=id&blobtable=MungoBlobs&blobwhere=1224913540851&ssbinary=true

more info on State budgets: http://coloradoagriculture.com/cs/Satellite/GovRitter/GOVR/1189715443059?rendermode=preview

state info: http://coloradoagriculture.com/cs/Satellite/GovRitter/GOVR/1177024890424?rendermode=preview