Re: Georgetown Loop / Denver Post

The state historical society has been cut off from its traditional source of state funding by the Colorado legislature as a result of the current state budget crisis. The society is a branch of state government, it is not a separate non-profit. Thus, it has been forced to pay its own way 100% through donations, dues, grants, merchandise sales, historic site admissions, and most importantly, money from the state historical fund. This fund is 28% of the gambling taxes paid by the gambling casinos in Colorado. It was set up as a constitutional amendment for the preservation of historic sites and structures throughout the state, and that includes a number of railroad orientated projects. The legislature has demanded and received a committment for money from the fund for "restoration" work on the state capitol building, which eats up about $5 million a year, plus funding the society itself, and that has caused a serious shortfall in the money available for historic preservation. This is a complex issue, with unfortunate consequences.