May 2017 Executive Director Blog

Hello CSSGA members. Welcome to the May, 2017 blog. As the snow is now behind us, we can look forward to some great Colorado weather. Hopefully your season is off and running. The monthly updates for CSSGA are as follows:

• An active session at the state Capitol is scheduled to come to an end next week. A large part of the session discussions have involved sources for Infrastructure Funding. As part of this, I am sorry to report on the outcome of HB-1242, the comprehensive transportation funding bill. On Tuesday, April 25, the Senate Finance Committee failed to pass HB-1242. After compelling testimony from mayors, chamber leaders, county commissioners, and representatives from organizations around the state, members of the Senate Finance Committee voted against the measure by a single vote margin. I applaud the efforts of Senate President Kevin Grantham, Speaker of the House Crisanta Duran, Senate Transportation Committee Chair Randy Baumgardner, and House Transportation & Energy Committee Chair Diane Mitsch Bush for their efforts to sponsor HB 1242 and make transportation a priority.
• With the non-passage of HB-1242, we are focused on another bi-partisan bill, SB-267. While not the long term fix HB-1242 would have addressed, SB-267 would bring some funding sources toward infrastructure. This week SB-267 will move the Hospital Provider Fee into an enterprise and out of the state General Fund budget. Among other things, it will secure $1.8 billion in Certificates of Participation (COPs) to accelerate a portion of the state’s identified $3.5 billion list of high priority projects. COP’s are similar to bonds but do not require a vote of the people to be enacted. $100 million per year of the debt service will be provided by the General Fund and $50 million per year will come from CDOT’s existing budget. A link to a recent Denver Post article is attached.
• With the last blog, I mentioned our very successful Networking Event at the Governor’s Mansion in March. At this event approximately 60 members and elected officials were on hand to discuss pertinent political and industry issues that affect us all. In an ongoing effort to continue our focus as a statewide trade association, our next event is scheduled for June 20 in Grand Junction. Make plans to attend and register today.
• Lastly, I am pleased to announce several new aggregate producer members so far this year. These include Brannan Sand & Gravel, Elk Sand & Gravel, and T.H.E. Aggregate Source. These new memberships are important to our ambition of “Strength in Numbers”. As a group, we can continue to impact critical issues for the stone, sand and gravel industry.

I encourage you to review our upcoming events. There are many seminars and other events available. Please contact us if there is anything we can do. Thanks again for the support of your association.

Todd R. Ohlheiser

Executive Director