In November, Colorado voters will weigh in on funding increase for conservation, water and wildfire mitigation
A citizen-led effort to reallocate sporting goods tax funds will appear on November ballot as Proposition 137
Coloradans will weigh in on a ballot measure to redirect excess funding from the state’s sporting goods and outdoor gear tax to support conservation projects.
The measure, which will appear on the ballot as Proposition 137, is being supported by a coalition of conservation groups, including Conservation Colorado, The Nature Conservancy, the Trust for Public Land and Western Resource Advocates.
Supporters of the measure argue that this funding is needed now.
“Colorado is facing urgent and mounting threats from drought, low snowpack and destructive wildfire,” said Tarn Udall, senior attorney for Western Resource Advocates, in an emailed statement. “Prop 137 provides Coloradans the chance to act now and protect the state’s most treasured asset — nature.”
Udall added that the measure supplies funding for this work “without raising taxes” and “directs the funding to established, effective state grant programs with strong accountability.”
If passed, it would allow the state to keep the tax revenue generated by the state’s sales tax on sporting goods and outdoor equipment, exempting it from being refunded to taxpayers under TABOR.
This excess revenue — which is estimated to generate around $175 million annually — would go toward projects like wildfire mitigation, new state parks, river and clean water protection, improved outdoor recreation infrastructure, wildlife and habitat management, land conservation and restoration, grants and more.
Specifically, the measure proposes distributing around 47.5% to Great Outdoors Colorado to support its land and water conservation work.
Another 47.5% would be split between the Colorado Department of Natural Resources and the Colorado State Forest Service for four existing wildfire mitigation grant programs. These include the Colorado Strategic Wildfire Action program, the Forest Restoration and Wildfire Risk Mitigation program, Healthy Forest Vibrant Communities and Wildfire Ready Watersheds.
Additionally, around 2.5% of the revenue would support Colorado’s Outdoor Equity Grant Program and 2.5% would support outdoor industry job creation through the Colorado Outdoor Recreation Industry Office.
Under the name Protect Colorado’s Land and Water, Prevent Wildfires, the committee to support Proposition 137 has raised and spent around $2.9 million, according to its Colorado Secretary of State Aug. 2 campaign finance records. The vast majority of contributions have come from the Nature Conservancy, Western Resource Advocates’ Action Fund and The Trust for Public Land.
It’s one of eleven citizen petitions to make November’s ballot so far, with three additional measures still under signature review by the Secretary of State’s office, as of Aug. 27. The office has until Sept. 2 to review these petitions. One of the 11 citizen measures — which would have forced the Colorado legislature to spend more money on roads — was pulled off the ballot by supporters this week after striking a deal with lawmakers.
