A state lawmaker is floating a plan to increase auto registration fees on certain categories of vehicles in order to raise money for fixing Colorado’s highways and bridges.
Rep. Joe Rice, a Littleton Democrat, said he plans to introduce a transportation-funding bill when the legislature convenes next month with the goal of raising about $250 million a year.
But Rice said, ultimately, his plan is still being hatched.
Rice last year introduced a similar plan, which ultimately failed, to raise vehicle registration fees to get dollars for roads. The difference in this year’s proposal is that Rice said he is considering increasing registration fees on certain categories of vehicles that receive exemptions for lower registration fees, such as trash trucks, concrete trucks and “veterinary mobile” trucks.
Rice said he might also try to bring back elements of last year’s proposal, which sought to raise money by increasing the minimum registration fee for old cars. The annual amount car owners pay in taxes and fees declines each year as their cars get older, and Rice said he might consider setting the minimum amount at $25 instead of $3.
Last resort, says skeptic
“I think if we start looking at all these groups that are paying well below what most of us are paying now, if we raise them very reasonable amounts we might be able to hit all or part of that $250 million and leave everybody else where they are now,” Rice said.
But the idea drew skepticism from state Rep. Frank McNulty, a Highlands Ranch Republican who said the state shouldn’t yet look at raising fees to boost transportation money. Instead, McNulty said, legislators should make it a priority to build greater transportation spending into next year’s budget — even as they may have to cut the overall budget.
“Any conversation about raising fees or new fees must be an absolute last resort,” McNulty said. “Colorado’s families are strapped tight right now. . . . To say we’re at the last resort, to say we have done everything possible is wrong.”
Gas tax same as in 1992
How to find the money to fix Colorado’s transportation system has emerged as one of the major issues of the coming legislative session.
Federal money for transportation projects has been dwindling.
The state’s gas tax has not been raised since 1992, and, when accounting for inflation, next year’s transportation budget is equal to what it was in 1983, when there were 2 million fewer people living in Colorado.
Rice said he has been working with Democrats and Republicans on his proposal and said he is willing to consider anything that will help.
“We need to do something meaningful and significant both for our transportation structure and our jobs,” Rice said. “We’re going to pay for this one way or another.”
John Ingold: 303-954-1068 or jingold@denverpost.com
