SB26-150 A Step Backward for Voter Accountability at RTD

The legislature’s latest effort to overhaul RTD through SB26-150 deserves careful scrutiny—and a look at Colorado’s history. The bill would reduce the elected RTD directors from 15 to 5 while adding four appointed members. This change is not only unfair to voters—it raises a deeper concern that should matter to every taxpayer.

Colorado, a relatively “newer” state, joined the Union during an era marked by corruption and excessive centralized power among older states—think Boss Tweed and Railroad Scandales. In response, Colorado’s constitution included reforms to decentralize authority, promote local control, and empower citizens with referendum, initiative and recall power. The constitution intentionally limited centralized power and gave counties and municipalities significant autonomy.

SB26-150 would reverse this principle by centralizing power through four appointed RTD board members. What is most troubling is that these unelected appointees would not be accountable to taxpayers; voters would have no way to recall. These appointed board members would wield tremendous power over the appropriation of more than $800 million in taxpayer funds each year. It is difficult to find precedent in Colorado for unelected officials exercising this level of control over such a large public budget- a budget bigger than all the cities in the state other than two.

The current board structure was established by initiative, and any drastic changes should similarly be referred to the voters. In a time of growing inequality of power in our politics this proposal should concern everyone. -JG