Colorado governor increases transportation funding

Colorado Gov. Bill Ritter is asking state legislators for a 6 percent increase in transportation funding, one of the few bright spots in next year's budget plan.

Ritter submitted the request to lawmakers Monday as part of his $1.03 billion transportation budget proposal for next year.

Ritter says the additional money comes from new fees on vehicle registrations, which are producing an estimated $161 million for bridge and roadway repair and safety work next year.

"As we all know, federal and state transportation revenue has been declining for years, while at the same time transportation demands and construction costs have been increasing. Our system of bridges, highways and roadways is rapidly deteriorating and becoming a greater and greater safety concern," Ritter said.

Democrats praised the increase in funding after years of underfunding for transportation projects. They credited Ritter's new fee program, called FASTER, or Funding Advancements for Surface Transportation and Economic Recovery.

"FASTER means shovels in the ground and an economic shot in the arm. The people of Colorado want us to make the tough decisions that lead to more jobs, a balanced budget and a strong economy. We're doing just that," said House Speaker Terrance Carroll, D-Denver.

House Minority Leader Mike May, R-Parker, said raising vehicle registration fees during the middle of a recession was a bad idea.

"That money comes from somewhere. It doesn't come from the tooth fairy," May said.

The new fees have angered many drivers and vehicle owners, especially owners of small trailers who got socked with huge fines for failing to register on time.

Ritter said Monday lawmakers will try to reduce the impact on trailers when lawmakers reconvene in January.

Under the new fee schedule, owners of cars and SUVs are paying an extra $32 the first year, $36.50 the second year and $41 the third year.

Owners who fail to register on time saw the fine soar from $10 to $25 a month, with a one-month grace period and a $100 cap. Owners of recreation vehicles were hit hard by the fines.

The governor was required by state law to deliver his proposed state budget Monday. Instead he gave lawmakers a down payment with the budgets for transportation, agriculture and public health. The rest of the budget will be delivered later this week as lawmakers prepare for budget hearings next week.

Lawmakers said the delay was needed because their budget analysts needed more time deal with the latest round of budget cuts for the current fiscal year, which were announced by the governor just last week.