Colorado drivers who are tired of potholes have a road question on their ballot today. Initiative 175 asks voters whether the money the state collects from drivers, through gas taxes and car-related taxes, should be locked in for roads.
It’s a constitutional amendment, so it needs 55% of the vote to pass.
What Initiative 175 Would Do
The measure would add a new section to the Colorado Constitution. It would require that money from these sources be spent on roads:
- All sales and excise taxes on motor vehicles and fuel
- Two-thirds of the sales tax on car parts, equipment and accessories
That money would go toward building and maintaining roads, road safety, road design and the Colorado State Patrol. The state would split it between local governments and the state highway fund.
According to KUNC, the measure could redirect more than $500 million a year toward roads.
What Supporters Say
The campaign is led by a group called Restore Our Roads, funded mostly by Colorado construction and paving industry groups.
Supporters argue that money paid by drivers has been going to other priorities while roads and bridges fall apart, and that drivers end up paying anyway through car repairs and longer commutes. “Coloradans are tired of dodging potholes,” said Tony Milo, president of the Colorado Contractors Association, adding that people want road money spent on roads “without raising taxes.”
What Opponents Say
Many Democratic lawmakers oppose the measure. They warn that moving that much money to roads would take it away from other parts of the budget, including transit, environmental programs, schools and health care.
State Sen. William Lindstedt called Initiative 175 “a special interest group’s irresponsible solution” that would come at the expense of hospitals and schools.
The Twist: A Law Already Waiting
Even if Initiative 175 passes, there’s a catch. Earlier this year, the Legislature passed and Governor Jared Polis signed House Bill 26-1430, which kicks in only if the initiative is approved.
That law would cut gas taxes, vehicle registration fees and some road fees for four years. It would also create a new road fund. Because of that, KUNC reports that overall road funding would stay largely the same for those four years, though drivers would pay lower gas taxes during that time.
Supporters of Initiative 175 say the law undercuts what voters are being asked to decide.
What It Means for Drivers
If the measure passes, the biggest short-term change most drivers would notice is lower fuel taxes for four years under HB 1430. If it fails, nothing changes, and the debate over how Colorado pays for its roads will likely continue.
Results are expected after polls close tonight.
Sources