EDITOR’S NOTE: Earlier this month, we asked readers and friends on our Facebook page () to offer questions for Gov. John Hickenlooper. We put the best questions to the governor. What follows are his responses.
The Colorado Bridge Enterprise has 154 bridges listed as eligible for bonds financed by the FASTER auto fee fund. As of June 2011, 27 bridge projects have been completed since formation in 2009, but only 23 others were listed as in-construction phase. The U.S. Dept. of Transportation listed 578 structurally deficient bridges in Colorado for 2010. Did Colorado take advantage of the federal Building America Bonds for increasing bridge repair projects? Are you encouraging our Congressional representatives to support Senator Wyden’s TRIP legislation to create tax credit bonding for transportation projects?
Andy Ball, Vail
Gov. John Hickenlooper: The Bridge Enterprise issued $300 million in federally subsidized Build America Bonds in December 2010. That was an unusually favorable time for this issuance and due to the economic recession, construction costs were substantially lower than normal. This timing allowed CDOT to take advantage of expiring Build America Bonds, which was a short-term bond program authorized by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.
Our priority is to repair or replace the most deficient or worst-rated bridges first and foremost. Structurally deficient means there are elements of the bridge that need to be monitored and/or repaired. The fact that a bridge is “structurally deficient” does not imply that it is likely to collapse or unsafe. It means the bridge must be monitored, inspected and repaired/replaced at an appropriate time to maintain its structural integrity.
As for the other part of your question, CDOT and the Governor’s Office are encouraging Congress to explore ways to provide financing options for transportation projects in the states. CDOT has strongly supported the Build America Bonds program and while supportive of the TRIP legislation concept, we need to see how this legislation will be included in a full re-authorization bill before making a full endorsement of this legislation.
My daughter was graduated in June 2011 from the University of Denver with a master’s degree in education. Schools won’t interview her because she doesn’t have a Colorado Teacher License. It takes Colorado Education Dept up to 10 months to process a New Graduates’ Teacher License but one can get a Marijuana License in two weeks.
My daughter needs a job but the Colorado Education Dept is holding her back. Give me a break.
Clement Lee, Colorado Springs
Hickenlooper: You are right, this was a slow process. But over the last year, the Colorado Department of Education has dramatically improved its systems and at the end of June fully launched an online application system for applying for a license.
Because the department knows it is critical for recent graduates to have their teaching license in hand when they apply for jobs over the summer, it is concentrating its resources on approving initial in-state licenses. By Aug. 1, the department was taking approximately two to three weeks to process those licenses.
Today, some licenses take a little longer. But the department is on track for all licenses to be processed in four weeks or less by December 2011. The goal is to improve the process to two weeks.
In light of several pending lawsuits (one involving the senseless death of a 9-year-old boy), badly failed federal audits, and given the great benefit of having [former Manager of Denver Human Services] Roxane White as your Chief of Staff — when will the State of Colorado stop throwing good money after bad and begin the process of replacing the unmitigated disaster that is CBMS?
Michael D. Whalen, Denver
Hickenlooper: CBMS is a top priority and we have put a considerable focus on making the improvements that will have a real impact on clients and caseworkers and address historical issues with the system — issues which are surmountable and that we are currently overcoming.
First, we completed a full upgrade of CBMS, which has stabilized the system and significantly improved capacity and performance.
Second, we have put in place a new governance structure that ensures the Governor’s Office, state agencies and the counties are at the table collaboratively making decisions on how to move forward.
Third, we launched PEAK — a convenient, 2 4/7 online service enabling Coloradans to screen themselves and apply for medical, food, and cash assistance programs from a home computer, library, kiosk, or anywhere the Internet can be accessed.
Finally, we have a clear plan to make a number of critical improvements over the next 12-18 months that will further enhance performance, functionality and usability of the system.
With all of these enhancements and changes to the IT infrastructure, the CBMS system of yesterday has in effect been replaced with more agile technology, user-friendly screens, and online tools to truly improve the user experience.
I am most interested in following the USA Pro Challenge for next year and wish to know when the cities will be picked for the tour route? Could you please direct me to the source who would have this information? Thank you for your prompt attention.
Jan Clark, Centennial
Hickenlooper: The race next year will be Aug. 20-26. Host cities will be announced later this year.
Colorado’s budget is in crisis, and our schools — from kindergarten to the university level — are funded at some of the lowest levels in the nation. Furthermore, recent demographics show senior citizens with the lowest poverty levels in the nation. Given these facts, why does Colorado not tax at least a portion of pension income?
Robin and Clarence Baer, Lakewood
Hickenlooper: Colorado does tax pension income. However, there are exclusions of some pension income for people over the age of 55 ($20,000) and for those over 65 ($24,000). Income earned above those amounts do contribute to taxable income. In the case of married couples, each person gets the individual exemption. It is important to remember that Colorado taxable income starts with the amount used for your federal return and other factors may be lowering your particular taxable income. Tax policy changes like this one are most likely subject to a provision in the state Constitution that requires voter approval for tax increases.
My question concerns uncollected vehicle registration fees. My wife and I visited several state parks this summer and noticed that quite a few motor homes and RVs had Montana license plates.
I visited with the owners and discovered that all of them were from Colorado! One couple told us that they saved about $600/year by registering their motor home as Montana based although they live in Aurora. I thought that Colorado residents were required to get Colorado registration for their vehicles. Perhaps a check of these registrations would aid our current state budget shortfall.
Walt Weiss, Idaho Springs
Hickenlooper: These types of cases are investigated and some are even prosecuted. If the owner of a vehicle is a Colorado resident, they are required to register here.
What is your opinion on our water control and the Nestle invasion?
Gretchen Fidler, via Facebook
Hickenlooper: Several years ago Nestle purchased a private fishery near Salida, including the water rights to a spring that supplied water to the fishery. Nestle has complied with the local county 1041 regulations and has an augmentation plan required by the state to replace water that is removed for consumptive uses. The water is brought to Nestle’s bottling plant in the Denver area, bottled and sold. We are not sure about what “invasion” you are asking about.
