Colorado collected a record windfall of $106.7 million this year from its share of energy and minerals production on federal lands.
The federal payment is 32 percent more than Colorado received last year – a reflection of higher prices for oil and natural gas and more energy production. Colorado, Wyoming and New Mexico were the big winners in this year’s $1.7 billion payout from the Interior Department’s Minerals Management Service.
Wyoming’s vast fields of natural gas and coal generated the highest payment, $879 million. New Mexico, also a major natural-gas producer, was second with a payout of $444 million. Colorado’s share ranked third.
“These revenues are an extremely important source of funds to many states today,” said Johnnie Burton, director of the Denver-based Minerals and Management Service. “States use the money to fund local education, critical infrastructure projects and assistance to local counties where the energy production occurs.”
Colorado distributes about half of its minerals revenue to the state school fund that equalizes per-student expenditures among school districts.
Another portion of the revenue is sent to local governments and school districts in energy-production areas. The remainder is split between the Colorado Water Conservation Board and the state Department of Local Affairs.
In a separate announcement Thursday, Colorado officials said $24.2 million in state-collected severance taxes on energy and minerals production will be awarded to 70 projects throughout the state, including road projects, local government facilities and fire-protection equipment.
Staff writer Steve Raabe can be reached at 303-820-1948 or sraabe@denverpost.com.
