(Denver) – The Future of Severance Taxes and Water Funding Task Force, created by SB25-040, will begin meeting this fall to conduct a study on severance taxes and water funding and develop recommendations for ways to continue funding water needs and energy impact grants in the face of decreasing severance tax revenue.
“State funding for water projects and conservation is critical for Colorado communities working to adapt to a hotter and dryer West. This task force will allow our water community to take an intentional approach to sustaining funding levels into the future. We appreciate the bill’s sponsors and thank the task force members for their willingness to dedicate their time and expertise to this effort,” said Dan Gibbs, Executive Director, Department of Natural Resources.
Appointments to the Severance Taxes and Water Funding Task Force:
Designated by DNR Executive Director Dan Gibbs
- Carly Jacobs, Chief Financial Officer, Department of Natural Resources
- Lauren Ris, Director, Colorado Water Conservation Board
Designated by CDA Commissioner Kate Greenberg
- Robert Sakata, Agriculture Water Policy Advisor, Colorado Department of Agriculture
Designated by DOLA Executive Director Maria De Cambra
- Eric Bergman, Director of the Division of Local Government, Department of Local Affairs
Appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives
- Brian Jackson, Director of Western Water, Environmental Defense Fund, representative of an environmental advocacy organization
Appointed by the Senate Minority Leader
- Doug Dennison, Director of Oil and Gas Services, Ecopoint Incorporated, representative of the oil and gas industry with experience in severance tax issues
Appointed by the President of the Senate
- Steve Wolff, General Manager, Southwestern Water Conservation District, representative of a water conservation district
Appointed by the House Minority Leader
- Shawn Bolton, Agriculture Representative, representative of the agricultural industry who, to the extent possible experience in the intersection of agriculture, water projects, and the oil and gas industry
Appointed by the Governor
- Jim Yahn, County Commissioner, Logan County, a county commissioner from a county that contains oil and gas operations
- Elyse Ackerman Casselberry, City Manager Delta, Municipal Official, an elected municipal official or city or town manager from a city, town or city and county that has been socially or economically impacted by the development, processing, or energy conversion of oil and gas operations, subject to taxation under Article 29 of Title 39
Nate Pearson, Department of Natural Resources’ Assistant Director for Water, will serve as project manager and Karen Schlatter, Director of the Colorado Water Center, a unit of Colorado State University’s Office of Engagement and Extension, has been retained as the third party to assist with conducting the Severance Taxes and Water Funding Study.
As outlined in the legislation, the study must focus on identifying ways to alleviate the need to transfer revenues derived from severance taxes to the general fund and to replace severance tax revenue that was previously transferred to the general fund. The purpose of the task force is to work with the third party to conduct the study and develop recommendations. By January 15, 2026, the third party is to submit a draft report to the Department of Natural Resources and the Task Force describing the study’s findings and any recommendations and solicit their review and input.