State Conservation Trust Fund for Local Governments
PDF | CTF Rules
PDF | Colorado Revised Statute Title 29, Article 21
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Program Contacts:
Department of Local Affairs
1313 Sherman Street, Room 521
Denver, CO 80203
Fax: 303.866.4819
Tamra Hooper, Program Manager
303.866.6398
tamra.hooper@state.co.us
Bret Hillberry
303.866.4058
bret.hillberry@state.co.us
Overview:
The Colorado Constitution, as amended in 1992, states that the net proceeds of the
Colorado Lottery
are to be used for state and local parks, recreation facilities, open space,
environmental education, and wildlife habitat. (See "Where the Money Goes")
The Conservation Trust Fund (CTF) is one of three funds established to accomplish these goals. CTF receives 40% of all net lottery proceeds. The Department of Local Affairs distributes CTF dollars from net Lottery proceeds to over 450 eligible local governments: counties, cities, towns, and Title 32 special districts that provide park and recreation services in their service plans. CTF funds are distributed quarterly on a per capita basis.
Funding can be used for the acquisition, development, and maintenance of new
conservation sites or for capital improvements or maintenance for recreational purposes on any public
site.* New conservation sites are defined in statute as being interests in land and water, acquired after
establishment of a conservation trust fund, for park or recreation purposes, for all types of open space,
including but not limited to flood plains, green belts, agricultural lands or scenic areas, or for any
scientific, historic, scenic, recreation, aesthetic or similar purpose (CRS 29-21-101).
* A public site is defined by the department as a publicly owned site.
Effective July 1, 2004, Senate Bill 04-176, added a new section to CRS 29-21-101 which gave the Division
of Local Government monitoring and enforcement authority over the use of Conservation Trust Funds.
Forms:
PDF | DOC Status of CTF and Spending Report for 2009
~ coming soon
PDF | DOC Certification to Continue to Receive CTF for 2010
~ Due December 31, 2009
PDF | Spending Report Instructions - including project codes
PDF | W-9 form
PDF | DOC Automatic Deposit Form (or EFT)
Population Totals and Challenge Process:
Link | Draft 2008 CTF Estimates
PDF | New Population Estimates process for Housing Units & Group Quarter Populations
Link | Population Totals - State Demography Office
PDF | Estimates Methodology and Challenge Process
Population questions?
Email the State Demography Office
The following are highlights of the distribution of Conservation Trust Funds to eligible local governments for the calendar year 2007.
- A total of $48,196,854 was distributed, with a per capita amount of $10.15.
- 464 local governments received Conservation Trust Funds.
- 100% of the entities were reviewed for compliance during the year, based on staff review of status and spending reports.
- 26 local governments were selected for an in depth review based on a computer generated list.
- A total of 54 projects were reviewed for compliance, totaling $992,640 worth of CTF expenditures.
2007 Expenditures by project category
New Conservation Sites; acquisition, development and maintenance of: $12.7 million
Public Sites; capital improvements and maintenance of: $34.5 million
TV Translator Facilities; acquisition, operation, and maintenance of: $145,000
Year-End Update ~ 2006
The following are highlights of the distribution of Conservation Trust Funds to eligible local governments for the calendar year 2006.
- A total of $51,434,689.74 was distributed, with a per capita amount of $11.02.
- 462 local governments received Conservation Trust Funds.
- 100% of the entities were reviewed for compliance during the year, based on staff review of status and spending reports.
- 24 local governments were selected for an in depth review based on a computer generated list.
- A total of 58 projects were reviewed for compliance, totaling $4,173,748 worth of CTF expenditures. No expenditures were found to be ineligible.
2006 Expenditures by project category
New Conservation Sites; acquisition, development and maintenance of: $13.8 million
Public Sites; capital improvements and maintenance of: $29.3 million
TV Translator Facilities; acquisition, operation, and maintenance of: $93,000
Where the Money Goes
Proceed Recipients |
||
50% |
40% |
10% |
 |
Conservation Trust Fund |
 |
GOCO gives money to projects across the state that impact communities. Funds have built trails, helped open recreation facilities, preserved ranchlands and view corridors, improved and expanded river quality and access, and conserved wildlife habitat. |
Local parks and recreation providers– towns, cities, counties and special districts – receive money from the Conservation Trust Fund in proportion to their population. |
Colorado’s 42 state parks use Lottery money for trail construction and maintenance, land acquisition, equipment and facility purchases and maintenance of state parks facilities. |
Grant Opportunities from GOCO
Entities eligible for distributions from the Conservation Trust Fund are also eligible for funding from Great Outdoors Colorado (GOCO) for planning, acquisition, and development of parks and environmental education facilities. Municipalities, counties, and other political subdivisions of the state are eligible for GOCO open space grants. GOCO usually announces its grant cycles in December and June. Please visit www.goco.org for cycle announcements and for more information about GOCO and its grant programs.