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• State Issues

Dear Transportation Committee Member:

     On behalf of the National Taxpayers Union’s 7,300 members throughout Colorado, I urge you to vote “yes” on HB11-1002.

     HB11-1002, sponsored by Representative BJ Nikkel and Senator Mike Kopp, would direct the Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) to design and build a website by July 1, 2012 that provides detailed information about departmental expenditures and revenues. The bill stipulates that the website be publicly accessible and searchable. Additionally, the bill requires CDOT to integrate the website into the Colorado Transparency Online Project System (TOPS). A Fiscal Note attached to the bill estimates that it will cost only $56,067 in one-time expenditures for Fiscal Year 2011-2012.

     By making a modest investment upfront, Colorado will have the potential to save much more through a better understanding of how transportation tax dollars are being spent. This legislation will build on earlier efforts to provide greater transparency in Colorado’s budget, including the creation of TOPS. Greater transparency in budgeting already has saved tens of millions in other states such as Texas. Additionally, transparency websites have enabled elected officials to build better trust with constituents and engage those constituents in a constructive process to account for state spending. With the Colorado budget facing significant challenges in the months ahead, it is more imperative than ever for the state to make every effort possible to find savings, so that painful cuts in core public services and burdensome tax increases on hard-working Coloradans can be avoided.

     Colorado taxpayers are counting on you to help ensure that their tax dollars are being spent properly. For the foregoing reasons, I urge you to support HB11-1002.

Sincerely,

John Stephenson
State Government Affairs Manager

CC: Representative BJ Nikkel, Senator Mike Kopp