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<br />such as water and sewer systems cannot meet the needs of new residents. <br />The influx of new residents may overwhelm the existing population as <br />growth rates exceed 10 percent annually. The economic base becomes <br />specialized and highly dependent on one activity--energy development. <br /> <br />One additional unique characteristic of energy-impacted boom towns de- <br />serves mention. The development of energy resources is site-specific. <br />An energy industry must go where the natural resources are located--there <br />are very few if any alternative locations. This is a different situation <br />than one where growth is induced by a government installation, a large <br />manufacturing plant, or by the relocation of a corporation headquarters. <br /> <br />Major Findings <br />Of the three types of local government analyzed (municipalities, counties <br />and school districts), municipalities generally have the least ability, or <br />financial resources, to adequately provide needed public services and fa- <br />cilities on a timely basis. The problems facing municipalities are pri- <br />marily due to a large expected influx of new residents without a corre- <br />sponding increase in the tax base. <br /> <br />It is legally possible for various units of local government to share tax <br />base and revenue resources, but it is not being done to any extent in Co- <br />lorado at the present time. The need for tax base and revenue sharing <br />exists between municipalities and counties. and between adjoining counties. <br /> <br />No readily available and timely sources of financial assistance for energy- <br />impacted areas exist in Colorado. Some funds have been appropriated by the <br />Colorado Legislature from the Oil Shale Lease Fund for use in northwestern <br />Colorado. However, most of the immediate needs relate to coal development. <br />There appears to be a need for about $50 million in available funds which <br />can be used, nonnally on a loan basis, for local government entities fac- <br />ing front-end financing problems as a result of energy development. <br /> <br />Problems likely to be experienced by a community or local area impacted by <br />large scale energy development are so numerous and complex that outside <br /> <br />vi i i <br />