Page 1
May 3, 2023 SB 23-267
Legislative Council Staff
Nonpartisan Services for Colorado’s Legislature
Revised Fiscal Note
(replaces fiscal note dated April 10, 2023)
Drafting Number:
Prime Sponsors:
LLS 23-0994
Sen. Van Winkle; Cutter
Rep. Titone; Bradley
Date:
Bill Status:
Fiscal Analyst:
May 3, 2023
House Appropriations
Matt Bishop | 303-866-4796
matt.bishop@coleg.gov
Bill Topic: CHATFIELD STATE PARK WATER QUALITY FEE
Summary of
Fiscal Impact:
☒ State Revenue
☒ State Expenditure
☐ State Transfer
☐ TABOR Refund
☒ Local Government
☐ Statutory Public Entity
The bill creates a process to establish a fee to support water quality efforts by the
Chatfield Watershed Authority. It increases state workload in FY 2023-24 and may
increase state and local revenue and expenditures beginning in FY 2024-25.
Appropriation
Summary:
No appropriation is required.
Fiscal Note
Status:
The revised fiscal note reflects the reengrossed bill, as amended by the House
Finance Committee.
Table 1
State Fiscal Impacts Under SB 23-267
Budget Year
FY 2023-24
Out Year
FY 2024-25
Out Year
FY 2025-26
Revenue
1
Cash Funds - $27,500 $55,000
Expenditures Cash Funds - $27,500 $55,000
Transfers - - -
Other Budget Impacts
- - -
1
Revenue is based on the maximum fee amount, if the fee is enacted.
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May 3, 2023 SB 23-267
Summary of Legislation
The bill creates a process for establishing a water quality fee for Chatfield State Park. The Department
of Natural Resources (DNR) must adopt rules regarding criteria under which park visitors may be
charged a fee by July 1, 2024. The fee is limited to $2.00 and may not be charged to a visitor holding
an annual or lifetime pass. At earliest, the fee takes effect January 1, 2025, and any fee revenue
collected is transmitted to the Chatfield Watershed Authority, less an amount retained by DNR to
cover its administrative expenses. The authority must spend at least 25 percent of the revenue on
water quality projects in Chatfield State Park. DNR must review the fee in FY 2029-30 and may adjust
the fee amount or eliminate the fee.
Background and Assumptions
The Chatfield Watershed Authority includes Jefferson county, Douglas county, the town of Castle
Rock, the city of Littleton, the town of Larkspur, and water and wastewater providers monitor and
protect water quality in the Chatfield reservoir and watershed. In FY 2021-22, Chatfield State Park
received an estimated 1.82 million visitors. Park entry is $10 per vehicle for a day pass. Attendance
estimates are based on park entry data collected by DNR and uptake of the Keep Colorado Wild pass.
For illustrative purposes, the fiscal note assumes that DNR will implement the fee at the maximum
$2.00 per visit beginning January 1, 2025.
State Revenue
The bill increases revenue to the Parks and Recreation Cash Fund in the DNR from the water quality
fee by an estimated $55,000 per year beginning in FY 2024-25, with half-year impacts in the first year,
if the fee is enacted, based on the assumptions above. Because Colorado Parks and Wildlife has
enterprise status, this revenue is not subject to TABOR.
Fee impact on park visitors. Colorado law requires legislative service agency review of measures
which create or increase any fee collected by a state agency. The table below identifies the fee impact
of this bill based on the fee levels in the bill and the assumptions above.
Table 2
Fee Impact on Visitors to Chatfield State Park
Fiscal Year
Type of
Fee
Proposed
Fee
Number
Affected
Total Fee
Impact
FY 2024-25 Water Quality $2.00 13,750 $27,500
FY 2025-26 Water Quality $2.00 27,500 $55,000
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May 3, 2023 SB 23-267
State Expenditures
The bill increases workload in DNR to conduct rulemaking in FY 2023-24, with support from the
Department of Law. This can be accomplished within existing appropriations.
If DNR establishes the water quality fee, the bill increases state expenditures in DNR by the same
amount as the revenue generated, paid from the Parks and Outdoor Recreation Cash Fund. Less
administrative expenses, fees collected are passed through DNR to the Chatfield Watershed
Authority. Expenditures are shown in Table 3.
Table 3
Expenditures Under SB 23-267
FY 2023-24 FY 2024-25 FY 2025-26
Department of Natural Resources
Payment to Chatfield Watershed Authority - $26,593 $53,185
Administrative Costs - $907 $1,815
Total Cost - $27,500 $55,000
Local Government
The Chatfield Watershed Authority is an intergovernmental agency whose members are counties,
municipalities, and certain municipal districts and authorities in the watershed. The bill increases
revenue and expenditures in the Chatfield Watershed Authority by the amounts of the payments
shown in Table 3.
Effective Date
The bill takes effect 90 days following adjournment of the General Assembly sine die, assuming no
referendum petition is filed.
State and Local Government Contacts
Law Natural Resources
The revenue and expenditure impacts in this fiscal note represent changes from current law under the bill for each
fiscal year. For additional information about fiscal notes, please visit: leg.colorado.gov/fiscalnotes.