New bill introduced in the CO Legislature that would pause the funding for wolf intro and re-allocate to state health insurance program. No effect on depredation claims as that comes out of a different spending bucket.
From the DenverPost:
Colorado lawmakers will consider pausing the state’s wolf reintroduction program for a year to reduce spending amid a massive budget deficit.
A bipartisan bill, made public Tuesday, would reallocate $254,000 that’s set aside for transporting more wolves to Colorado this winter and instead use it to help pay for a state program to lower health insurance costs. The bill will be heard during a special legislative session that starts Thursday to address the $783 million state general fund budget deficit caused by the federal tax bill.
The bill has broad sponsorship, extending from the Western Slope to the Front Range. But it was unclear if it would gain traction with lawmakers more broadly during the short session.
Under the bill, state funding for other aspects of the wolf program — like staffing, conflict minimization and compensation of ranchers for impacts to livestock — would remain in place. If implemented, the budget for the wolf program during this fiscal year, which runs through next June, would shrink from $2.1 million to $1.8 million.
CPW would not be permitted to use any of the remaining money for a new reintroduction round.
“I think the state would make a better investment in people’s health insurance right now, (rather) than spending money on more wolves,” said Sen. Dylan Roberts, a Dillon Democrat who is sponsoring the bill.
Find your senator/rep: https://leg.colorado.gov/house-district-map
From the DenverPost:
Colorado lawmakers will consider pausing the state’s wolf reintroduction program for a year to reduce spending amid a massive budget deficit.
A bipartisan bill, made public Tuesday, would reallocate $254,000 that’s set aside for transporting more wolves to Colorado this winter and instead use it to help pay for a state program to lower health insurance costs. The bill will be heard during a special legislative session that starts Thursday to address the $783 million state general fund budget deficit caused by the federal tax bill.
The bill has broad sponsorship, extending from the Western Slope to the Front Range. But it was unclear if it would gain traction with lawmakers more broadly during the short session.
Under the bill, state funding for other aspects of the wolf program — like staffing, conflict minimization and compensation of ranchers for impacts to livestock — would remain in place. If implemented, the budget for the wolf program during this fiscal year, which runs through next June, would shrink from $2.1 million to $1.8 million.
CPW would not be permitted to use any of the remaining money for a new reintroduction round.
“I think the state would make a better investment in people’s health insurance right now, (rather) than spending money on more wolves,” said Sen. Dylan Roberts, a Dillon Democrat who is sponsoring the bill.
Find your senator/rep: https://leg.colorado.gov/house-district-map
