Date: 03/17/2009

Final
BILL SUMMARY for SB09-105

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON LOCAL GOVERNMENT

Votes: View--> Action Taken:
Moved to refer Senate Bill 09-105 to the CommitteePASS



02:22 PM -- Senate Bill 09-105

Representative Scanlan, prime sponsor of Senate Bill 09-105, concerning the removal of a property tax limit to fight fires, explained her bill. She talked about the need to mitigate fire danger at the local level and discussed the statutory limit on the amount that a county can raise through a special property tax for the purpose of fighting fires. She explained that the current limit on the amount that may be raised is $500,000 per year, talked about the history of this statutory limit, and explained that the bill would allow county voters to approve a higher tax rate.

02:27 PM

Paul Cooke, Colorado State Fire Chiefs Association, testified in support of the bill, discussed the risks of severe wildfire in the state, and talked about the need for counties to ask voters to increase mill levies for fire protection.

02:29 PM

Chris Mendez, Colorado Counties Inc., testified in support of the bill and explained the history of the statutory property tax limit on the amount that a county can increase to fight fires. Mr. Mendez discussed the issue of local control and the ability of local voters to approve property tax increases to support fighting fires.

02:31 PM

The members of the committee made closing comments on the bill.

02:38 PM

Representative Scanlan addressed questions from committee members concerning methods that home owners and subdivisions are taking to mitigate surrounding forest fire fuels.

02:38 PM

Representative Scanlan made closing comments on the bill.
BILL:SB09-105
TIME: 02:41:00 PM
MOVED:Soper
MOTION:Moved to refer Senate Bill 09-105 to the Committee on Finance. The motion passed on a 9-1-1 vote.
SECONDED:Liston
VOTE
Acree
Yes
Bradford
Yes
Liston
Yes
McKinley
No
Middleton
Yes
Schafer S.
Yes
Tipton
Yes
Vigil
Excused
Waller
Yes
Soper
Yes
Peniston
Yes
Final YES: 9 NO: 1 EXC: 1 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: PASS




02:42 PM

The committee adjourned.