Colorado Proposition 137 Passes With 51.6%, Directing About $175 Million a Year to Public Lands and Wildfire Work
Colorado voters approved Proposition 137 in the Nov. 3 general election. The Associated Press called the measure on Nov. 6, with 51.6% voting yes and 48.4% voting no.
The measure directs sales tax the state already collects on sporting goods to conservation and wildfire work, about $175 million to $180 million a year at first and potentially about $200 million over time, with no new tax. About $83 million a year goes to Great Outdoors Colorado (GOCO), nearly double what GOCO now receives from the Colorado Lottery, and about another $83 million goes to wildfire risk reduction and restoration of fire-damaged watersheds.
The measure becomes law after the canvass is completed and the governor proclaims the results within 30 days. Results remain unofficial until the Secretary of State certifies them.
On the same ballot, voters rejected Amendment 83, which would have written a right to hunt and fish into the state constitution. The amendment fell short of the 55% threshold required for a constitutional amendment, leaving wildlife management decisions with Colorado Parks and Wildlife.
Also on Nov. 3, Attorney General Phil Weiser defeated Victor Marx in the governor's race and will succeed term-limited Gov. Jared Polis in January. Proposition 137 is one of Colorado's largest public-lands investments in recent years, and supporters say it will provide stable funding for trails, forests and wildlife conservation.
Source: Colorado Secretary of State
Published by GSM · USA (original Chinese edition)
Photo: 图：科罗拉多州议会大厦。CC BY 2.0，经 Wikimedia Commons。 / Photo: The Colorado State Capitol. CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
