Date: 01/22/2015

Final
Presentation on Transportation Financing

COMMITTEE ON JOINT TRANSPORTATION

Votes: View--> Action Taken:
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09:46 AM -- Presentation on Transportation Financing

Greg Sobetski, Legislative Council Staff, came to the table to present to the committee on transportation financing in Colorado. He distributed five documents to the committee (Attachments C-G) detailing transportation financing and infrastructure planning. Mr. Sobetski described the structure of the various bodies involved in transportation planning and financing in the state, speaking specifically to the Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) and the Transportation Commission. Representative Mitsch Busch spoke to the local bodies also responsible for this, known as Transportation Planning Regions (TPR) and Metropolitan Planning Organizations (MPO). She also discussed the Statewide Transportation Advisory Committee, which provides advice to CDOT on the needs of the transportation system in Colorado and reviews and comments on all regional transportation plans submitted by TPRs and MPOs.

150122 AttachC.pdf150122 AttachC.pdf150122 AttachD.pdf150122 AttachD.pdf150122 AttachE.pdf150122 AttachE.pdf150122 AttachF.pdf150122 AttachF.pdf150122 AttachG.pdf150122 AttachG.pdf

09:53 AM

Mr. Sobetski discussed the primary sources of revenue for transportation projects in the state, detailing the Highway Users Tax Fund (HUTF), federal funds, the aviation fund, and a variety of other cash funds. He spoke to past sources of transportation finance that have expired, such as Transportation Revenue Anticipation Notes (TRANs) bonds, the Senate Bill 97-001 diversions, and House Bill 02-1310 transfers. Mr. Sobetski then addressed the various sources of HUTF revenue from taxes and fees levied in the state. He responded to questions on how much transportation funding is spent on administration and design engineering by CDOT, cities, and counties.

10:03 AM

Mr. Sobetski referred to Figure 3 of Attachment C and discussed how HUTF revenues are distributed throughout cities, counties, and the state. He responded to questions on aviation funds, what aviation fund income consists of, the status of TRANs bond debt service, and whether a municipality could levy an excise tax to fund its own transportation project.

10:11 AM

Mr. Sobetski discussed Senate Bill 09-228, which authorizes new transfers of General Fund revenue to the HUTF and Capital Construction Fund under specific economic circumstances. He explained the circumstances surrounding personal income growth in the state that would trigger the transfers, as well as the impacts that the Taxpayer Bill of Rights (TABOR) could have on these transfers.

10:21 AM

Mr. Sobetski responded to questions on the funds deposited into the HUTF, how these funds are distributed and spent, and the current state taxes levied on motor fuels. Committee discussion of motor fuel taxes ensued. Mr. Sobetski responded to questions on the funding received by the state from the federal government for federal motor fuel taxes, taxes levied on compressed natural gas and alternative fuels, and projects in the state that have been funded with Funding Advancements for Surface Transportation and Economic Recovery Act of 2009 (FASTER) revenue.