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HomeMy WebLinkAboutLegislative Letters 2017 BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS 530 East Main Street Aspen, Colorado 81611 Phone (970) 920-5200 www pitkincounty corn May 4, 2017 Senate Finance Committee Colorado General Assembly 200 E Colfax Ave Denver,CO 80203 RE. HB17-1321-Colorado Parks and Wildlife Financial Sustainability Senator Neville,Chair, and Fellow Senate Finance Committee: Pitkin County strongly urges you to vote YES on H817-1321 to provide Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW)with sustainable funding for fish and wildlife management now and into the future This bill gives the Parks and Wildlife Commission the authority to set its own fee structure, up to a specified cap,without relying on general tax dollars to address critical financial challenges and improve wildlife habitat across the state Currently, hunting and fishing fees can only be increased through the legislative process. Fees have not increased since 2005, resulting in a 22%decrease in its buying power. In addition,the Commission has had to cut more than$40 million and 50 positions since 2009. CPW needs an additional $14 million annually to simply maintain its current operations. Parks and Wildlife is a key partner of Pitkin County and its Open Space and Trails Program IOST) However, decreased budgets and flat-lined revenues have forced local governments, such as OST, to shoulder much of the costs of these partnerships OST currently provides housing to the local Wildlife Officer to help maintain continuity of services in the region. In addition, Pitkin County looks to CPW for large-scape wildlife habitat monitoring and analysis Without additional revenues, local governments are pushed to rely on outdated,site-specific habitat and wildlife management plans. Enabling the CPW Commission the authority to establish its own fees allows local governments to leverage their resources to create robust,comprehensive wildlife and habitat monitoring and management plans In addition to supporting local government land management, HB17-1321 creates a permanent funding mechanism to support the critical Aquatic Nuisance Species program To protect water storage and delivery faculties while still allowing for boating and recreational use of the reservoirs, CPW needs a reliable, long-term funding source for the statewide ANS program Without sustained funding, water bodies across the state may be closed or compromised. HB17-1321 also helps protect Colorado's vital water infrastructure. Pitkin County urges you to support HB17-1321. As Colorado's population and visitation continues to rise,this hill helps ensure CPW and local land management agencies have the resources necessary to keep Colorado's outdoors great now and into the future Sincerely, €.4A.AL61. George Newman Chair, Pitkin County Board of Commissioners ( t c k . tit BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS 530 East Main Street Aspen, Colorado 81611 Phone (970) 920-5200 www.pitkincounty corn November 1, 2017 Honorable Scott Tipton United States House of Representatives 218 Cannon HOB Washington, DC 20515 Re VOTE NO on H.R.3922-CHAMPION (CHAMPION)Act Dear Representative Tipton. The Pitkin County Board of County Commissioners urges you to Vote NO on H R 3922—the CHAMPION Act.The County supports the programs being extended in the CHAMPION Act, including extending the Community Health Centers and National Health Service Corps However, the reauthorization of these critical health care programs comes at an extreme cost to other programs, specifically the Prevention and Public Health Fund The Prevention and Public Health Fund supports local communities,such as Pitkin County and across Colorado's 3rd District by providing funding for prevention programs and flexibility at the local level to address emerging issues such as mental health, opioid abuse and suicide prevention— all items that are becoming all too common in our community.As health care costs continue to sky rocket on the Western Slope, it is critical that local communities maintain the flexibility to address the rising costs through prevention, planning and assessment initiatives The proposed legislation would cut the Prevention and Public Health Fund by$10.5 billion, a 75% reduction in the fund. This would result in a $10.5 billion cut to vaccinations, chronic disease prevention and infectious disease prevention Making sure that everyone has access to affordable quality health care is something we can all work towards.As costs escalate,we cannot compromise one component of public health and the health care system against one another Vote noon the CHAMPION Act and vote yes for improving our nation's health system. Sincerely, George Newman Chair Pitkin County Board of Commissioners cc Senator Gardner Senator Bennet ITIiIN a CO NT8 •BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS 530 East Main Street Aspen, Colorado 81611 Phone (970) 920-5200 www pitki ncounty corn November 15, 2017 National Park Service VIA Planning Environment and Public Comment (PEPC) Re Proposed Seasoned Park Fee Increase The Pitkin County Board of County Commissioners urges the NPS and Secretary of the Interior to reduce the Seasonal Park Fee Increases that are proposed at 17 of the country's most popular National Parks. Under the proposed seasonal park fee structure,visitors will see a 133%increase during peak season as compared to the rest of the season While the fee increases may only be at a small number of the total park units,these 17'jewels'of the National Park System represent over 70%of the entire entrance fee revenue. A 133%entrance fee increase is unacceptable and should be decreased. Creating a seasonal fee structure to address some of the projects maintenance and restoration projects is necessary to preserve the natural and cultural resources for the enjoyment and education of present and future generations However,it is inappropriate to push the entire costs of these projects to the visitors of our National Park System at the same time that funds for general operations for the NPS are being cut In the proposed federal budget If the general fund cuts are approved with the proposed seasonal fees,the NPS could have a 34%increase in funding capital projects, but no staffing, project management or daily operations to implement the projects. Do not cut in one area and increase fees just to push the burden of over400 park units to 70%of the visitors. The value of our National Park System spreads further than just the visitation numbers. In Rocky Mountain National Park alone,4.5 million visitors spent$298 million in local communities while visiting the park-supporting over 4,600 jobs and$169 million in incomes. And yet,the greatest economic value of these protected lands is to the surrounding communities by attracting and retaining people, entrepreneurs, businesses,and retirees. Increasing park fees may address some of the deferred projects, but it also risks thousands of jobs across the country The National Park System is America's "Best Idea"and it is essential that we maintain accessibility for both present and future generations Reduce the seasonal fee structure and ensure funding for the NPS is supported in the Federal Budget. Sincerely, .'L r`L,` IA's / -t1 C7 I, George New16n Chair, Pitkin County Boar of Commissioners cc Senator Gardner Senator Bennet Representative Tipton Representative Polis ational Park Service Visitor Spending Effects.https.//www.nps.gov/subjects/socialscience/vse htm