Spending on Proposition 137 exceeds $5M, almost all to support the ballot measure
Supporters of 137 disclosed an additional $1 million in spending in their latest report, while the opposition disclosed about $3,000
Ryan Spencer/The Aspen Times
Supporters of Proposition 137 continue to outspend the opposition by millions of dollars.
Proponents of the measure reported an additional $1 million in fundraising and spending in their Oct. 19 report filed with the Colorado Secretary of State’s Office, hitting about $5 million total this election cycle. Opponents reported an additional $3,000 in spending in their latest report, for about $6,300 in total spending this election cycle.
Prop 137 would create a pool of about $175 million for existing conservation and outdoors programs, including projects that aim to mitigate wildfire risk, by allowing the state government to keep more of the taxes it collects from sports equipment sales. If approved, the ballot measure would reduce Colorado Taxpayer Bill of Rights, or TABOR, refunds by between $26 and $83 for single filers, or double that for joint filers, in some years.
The ballot measure has the support of a wide coalition, including various conservation groups, who argue that it increases funding for crucial programs that benefit Coloradans without raising taxes. But it also faces opposition, including from those who have concerns about its fiscal impacts and whether the funds support the right kind of wildfire mitigation and conservation efforts.
Supporters of Prop 137 are registered under the name Protect Colorado’s Land and Water, Prevent Wildfires. The filings show major financial support from conservation organizations, including more than $2 million from The Nature Conservancy, a global environmental nonprofit; a combined $900,000 from Western Resource Advocates and its action fund; $350,000 from the Fund for a Better Future; $215,000 from the Trust for Public Land; $255,000 from the Holdfast Trust associated with the company Patagonia; and $100,000 from the Conservation Fund.
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In the latest filing, the Environmental Defense Action Fund donated $525,000, the Colorado Civic Alliance contributed $100,000 and Pamela Boll, a filmmaker with an address in New Jersey, gave $300,000 in support of Prop 137. The campaign also received about 20 smaller donations from individuals from $50 to $10,000.
Supporters of Prop 137 have spent more than $3 million on consultants and professional services, including for “signature gathering,” “campaign management” and “compliance consulting,” according to filings. Since mid-September, filings show they have also spent more than $1.6 million on advertising.
The opposition to Prop 137 is registered under the name Protect Colorado’s Land, Communities, and Tax Dollars. The group has received a handful of donations of between $15 and $5,000 from Colorado residents. In the latest filing, opponents disclosed spending $1,000 on ads with the O’Rourke Media Group, about $1,800 for ads in The Aspen Times and $250 for Meta ads on social media.
