Colorado Avalanche Information Center in trouble

Submitted by a Citizen Reader

The Colorado Avalanche Information Center is facing a potentially crippling budget cut, and users and supporters of the CAIC need organizations, agencies, and individuals to write letters.

Since 1983 the Colorado Avalanche Information Center has been the state’s provider of avalanche forecasting and education, and most of us believe we are all a little bit safer while traveling the backcountry and driving our mountain highways. The CAIC’s efforts are laudable. Since 1990 our state’s population has increased ~52% from 3.3 million to 5 million residents, but the average number of people killed in avalanches has remained steady at 6 deaths per winter. The CAIC makes our job as rescuers easier and safer.

Since 2000, the CAIC has received funding from the Colorado Severance Tax Fund, and is one of several State agencies and programs that receive funding from this source. Severance Tax is an alternative to the General Fund, which funds the majority of state agencies. Severance Tax makes up about 25% of CAIC’s total budget with the rest coming from contracts (almost all with CDOT) and donations.

Our state is in dire financial straits, so the Joint Budget Committee’s staff has put the CAIC on a hit list (along with a number of other programs) for possibly losing its Severance Tax funding. The effect would be crippling, with the future of the CAIC in jeopardy. The upshot of even a downsized CAIC, if that ended up being the case, will be fewer staff, less education, and fewer forecasts. My analysis is that the proposed 25% cut in funding would basically eliminate the CAIC’s backcountry forecasting program. The majority of the CAIC budget is to provide contracted services to CDOT and that money looks secure, for now.

I hope that our community will contact the JBC and the Governor to get the CAIC off the “the list.” A 1-2 paragraph letter explaining what’s important to you about the CAIC and how it helps you, your friends, your team, your county, etc. is all that’s needed. Collectively, our letters will have an impact. Please copy the same letter to each of the members of the Joint Budget Committee and to the Governor, whose addresses are listed after my closing. Letters need to be received before the end of this month.

Additionally, please contact your State Representative, sheriff, and emergency services manager, which would have the benefit of letting him or her know what may happen to the CAIC’s funding.

ADDRESSES:

John W Hickenlooper, Governor
136 State Capitol
Denver, CO 80203-1792

Senator Mary Hodge
Joint Budget Committee
200 East 14th Avenue, 3rd Floor
LEGISLATIVE SERVICES BUILDING
Denver, CO 80203

Senator Pat Steadman
Joint Budget Committee
200 East 14th Avenue, 3rd Floor
LEGISLATIVE SERVICES BUILDING
Denver, CO 80203

Senator Kent Lambert
Joint Budget Committee
200 East 14th Avenue, 3rd Floor
LEGISLATIVE SERVICES BUILDING
Denver, CO 80203

Representative Cheri Gerou
Joint Budget Committee
200 East 14th Avenue, 3rd Floor
LEGISLATIVE SERVICES BUILDING
Denver, CO 80203

Representative Jon Becker
Joint Budget Committee
200 East 14th Avenue, 3rd Floor
LEGISLATIVE SERVICES BUILDING
Denver, CO 80203

Representative Mark Ferrandino
Joint Budget Committee
200 East 14th Avenue, 3rd Floor
LEGISLATIVE SERVICES BUILDING
Denver, CO 80203

Email addresses of the JBC…
senmaryhodge@gmail.com
sen.steadman@gmail.com
SenatorLambert@comcast.net
cheri.gerou@gmail.com
jon.becker.house@state.co.us
mferrandino@yahoo.com