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<br />7 <br />~-r-~ \~ Wildlife agency told <br />> ~~\ to spend funds fast <br /> <br />-'7 \ <br />i <br /> <br />Bv TAD RICKMAN <br /> <br />The Capitol Reporter <br /> <br />The Department of Wildlife <br />can go ahead and spend $5 mil- <br />lion on land purchases through <br />the bidding process, but it had <br />better be a wild spending spree <br />- they have only until 1996 to <br />do so, <br />SB 71, sponsored in the <br />House by Rep, Russell George, <br />R-Rifle, passed the House <br />Agriculture Committee 11-2 and' <br />was sent to the floor. Only Rep. <br />Bill Jerke, R-LaSalIe, and Rep. <br />Marilyn Musgrave, R-Fort <br />Morgan, opposed it. <br />Under the bilI, the Wildlife <br />Department would be able to <br />use the funds appropriated to it <br />in 1992 to purchase water for <br />"the Great Plains Reservoir and <br />any other property acquisition <br />for which they would like to use <br />the bidding process," George <br /> <br />"'2\ \5\ ~S'" <br />~~ 'kr\)~~ <br /> <br />said after the hearing, <br />In the bill, the Wildlife <br />Department would have until <br />2000 to acquire the water, prob- <br />ably from the Arkansas River <br />Basin, George said. , <br />However, Rep. Jeanriie <br />Reeser, D-Thomton, proposed a <br />successful amendment giving <br />the Wildlife Department only <br />until 1996 to finish its business, <br />After 1996, purchase re- <br />quests by the Wildlife Depart- <br />ment must come through legis- <br />lation, George said, <br />That issue was the thrust of <br />the debate and testimony, but <br />not the thrust of the bill. . <br />The bill's primary intent is to <br />force Great Outdoors Colorado, <br />a government agency that' <br />doesn't pay taxes, to make up <br />for lost tax income by paying <br />communities directly whenever <br />they purchase land, George <br />said, <br /> <br />1 <br /> <br />anc <br />the <br />thi: <br />the <br />ciat <br />ane <br /> <br />E <br /> <br />,- <br /> <br />a <br />