Legislation that would double the amount of severance tax money that goes back to communities on the Western Slope passed in the House Wednesday.
House Bill 1139 co–sponsored by Rep. Bernie Buescher would expand the allocation of severance funds that go to local communities from the current 15% to 30%.
Buescher says he and representative Kathleen Curry put the bill together, because they recognize that many communities in western and southern Colorado are trying to deal with the impacts of energy development and they need more funding to do so.
The next stop for this bill is the Senate where Senator Josh Penry will carry it.
