Denver Post May 4, 2008
The oil and gas tax severence ballot that proposes to devote over $200 million to higher education, with 60% dedicated for scholarships, was originally planned to go directly to the operating budgets of Colorado institutions. When higher ed administrations reacted with questions and doubts instead of enthusiasm, Ritter changed the bill's focus to scholarships. Higher ed institutions are now reiterating that they do in fact need the proceeds from the tax, if the ballot is passed, to aid their all-time-low operating budgets.