TITLE: CONCERNING THE "COLORADO TRANSPORTATION PLANNING ACT OF 1998", AND, IN CONNECTION THEREWITH, ABOLISHING AND REESTABLISHING THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF THE REGIONAL TRANSPORTATION DISTRICT AND THE TRANSPORTATION COMMISSION AND REQUIRING JOINT MEETINGS OF SUCH BOARD OF DIRECTORS, THE TRANSPORTATION COMMISSION, AND THE COLORADO AERONAUTICAL BOARD.

STATE FISCAL IMPACT SUMMARY	FY 1998/99	FY 1999/2000
State Revenues General Fund Other Fund
State Expenditures General Fund Aviation Fund State Highway Fund	$5,000 ($1,200)	$5,000 ($1,200)
FTE Position Change	None	None
Local Government Impact — Reduced RTD election costs.

The bill would change the Regional Transportation District (RTD) Board and the Transportation Commission. RTD, the Transportation Commission, and Colorado Aeronautical Board (aeronautical board) would be required to meet jointly at a common location at least eight times annually. The joint meetings would constitute a regular meeting of each governing body. Only the appropriate governing body would be able to vote on matters before them.

The current elected fifteen-member RTD board would be replaced by an appointed seven member board. The RTD Board would be appointed by the Governor with approval by the Senate. RTD’s powers and duties would not change. Appointments to the RTD Board would be one member from: the state at large; the city and county of Denver; and one member from each of the counties of Adams, Arapahoe, Boulder, Douglas, and Jefferson. The appointees would come from a list of two nominees from the Denver City Council and the board of county commissioners of each county. City councils of the cities in each county may jointly nominate two persons to represent each such county.

The current-eleven member Transportation Commission would be abolished and reduced to nine members appointed by the Governor. Appointments would be made from each congressional district, two members from the state at large, and one member from a list of nominees submitted by any organization representing local transit agencies and authorities.

The bill would not change or reduce the powers and duties of the Transportation Commission. It would reduce the number of members on the commission from eleven to nine. This would reduce the operating costs of the commission. It is assumed that the eight meetings that the commission would be required to attend with the Aeronautical Board and the RTD Board would be held within the existing meeting schedule and would not require additional expenses. The commissioners receive an estimated $100 per meeting ($75 per diem and actual and necessary expenses). Reducing the number of board members would reduce the costs of the commission by approximately $1,200 (2 members X $100 X 12 meetings) in State Highway Funds. The commission’s expenditures are not appropriated by the General Assembly.

The Aeronautical Board currently meets six times a year. This bill would require the board to meet two additional times. The average cost for a board meeting is approximately $2,500. This bill would require an increase in expenses to the Aeronautical Board of $5,000 from the Aviation Fund.

The Regional Transportation District would be changed from an elected board to an appointed board. This would reduce the district’s expenditures for elections. County clerks bill public entities, that have issues on an election ballot, a share of the cost of conducting the election. RTD’s share may vary from $20,00 to $280,000 depending on the election.

The provision in the bill that requires the RTD Board to meet with the Transportation Commission and the Aeronautical Board would not have a fiscal impact to RTD. The board currently meets on a monthly basis. It is assumed that the joint meetings would last as long as necessary to conduct the required business and the joint meetings would adjourn and the board could conduct its business at its regularly scheduled business meeting.

This fiscal note implies that the Department of Transportation would require $5,000 in additional Aviation Fund spending authority for FY 1998-99 to implement this bill.