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<br />We obviously recOIDIDendedthat all -twelve. projects be funded~ However, <br />we are part of the executive branch. Both the Governor and'the General <br />Assembly are faced with the problem that the requests for funds every <br />year considerably exceeds the .anticipated revenue..: .: <br /> <br />~ <br /> <br />Since Colorado by~constitution':ca.n~ot-engage in deficit spendi~, the. <br />Governor and the General Assembly have some very tough choices to make I <br />as to how that money is allocated. The requests, I 'guess, would run ~ <br />at 1east.~enty percent more than the revenues. <br /> <br />As I advised the Board,:I met with the Governor on this s~bject. :Heis: <br />comp1etely~sympathetic-tothe problems that these communities are <br />having, and the farmers as well. While trying to balance out his .: ': <br />entire program, he only recommended 1.2 million dollars or thereabouts <br />which would take care of three projects. Those were selected-by the <br />Governor's staff from our: priority list. <br /> <br />=' <br /> <br />We did considerable research on the possible source of funding for <br />these projects , and we: came uJilwith ~a recOIDIDendation to the Governor. <br />that .these projects be funded from the Mineral Leasing Fund. That's <br />federal money: that's being paid into.the'state; and therefore, it.wou1d <br />be no drain upon the general fund. . - ~ <br /> <br />") <br /> <br />I explained to the Joint Budget Committee that the Governor's recom- <br />mendation was 1.2 million, and that I was not.at liberty to request any <br />further sum. But the General Assembly does have all of the information <br />for aq-these projects.: .1. susvect that they're going to fund some . <br />additional projects, but I can t tell you which'ones. The political <br />arena is a strange one, as you know, and a lot depends on.who:hi1s the~ <br />most political muscle at any given moment. <br />. -'- ') .-. . :-. . <br />I think there's an outside chance that all of them will be funded. . I <br />think there's an excellent chance that there will be some increase in . <br />what the Governor has-recommended. Further than that, it's:just a <br />guessing. game with all of us;at this point. . <br /> <br />MR. SHERMAN: Could I comment briefly on that, Ben? <br />MR. STAPLETON:~ Sure. <br /> <br />MR. SHERMAN: What Larry has said is absolutely correct. The Governor <br />supports the concept. He supports the'program,: and. John,: it's simply <br />a matter of budgetary constraints. I don't recall last year how much <br />the legislature actually funded, but I don't think it was 1.2 million <br />that's requested this year in the Governor's budget, so actually he's <br />asking for more that what was provided by the legislature: last year. <br />But there are limited dollars. <br /> <br />I <br /> <br />. <br />The Mineral- Leasing Fund that .Larry referred to concerns oil shale ' <br />moni~s that have in the past been used~ There are all kinds of agencies <br />and all. kinds of programs that-are attempting to latch on to those <br />monies. In the ~na it's just a dog fight to see who; in fact, gets <br />those funds. <br /> <br />-:.30.., <br />