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Cumbres & Toltec leaders warn a $48,000 cut would cost one FTE and threaten maintenance capacity
Summary
Officials for the Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad said state support of about $1.3M covers safety‑critical maintenance and staffing; they told the JBC a proposed $48,000 reduction would force the railroad to remove one full‑time employee from year‑round maintenance operations.
Representatives of the Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad told the Joint Budget Committee that the state appropriation—about $1.3 million—supports safety‑critical maintenance, insurance, audits and year‑round staff based in Antonito, Colorado. Commissioners and interim railroad leadership described recent investments in fire mitigation funded out of last year’s appropriation and said those investments helped prevent fire starts during a drought year.
Scott Gibbs, one of Colorado’s two commissioners to the bi‑state commission, and interim CEO Eric Mason and CFO Alicia Martinez said the appropriation is critical to keep locomotives, track and rolling stock compliant with Federal Railroad Administration standards and to sustain operations that support local tourism economies. Martinez said a proposed $48,000 reduction equals roughly one full‑time position on their budget and would require that person to be sent home, reducing capacity for equipment and track maintenance.
Committee members pressed for context and alternatives; railroad leaders said the funding supports core operating staff, insurance and maintenance and underscored the railroad’s importance to rural economic activity. No formal appropriation action was taken during the hearing; commissioners asked the committee to consider the railroad’s role in regional tourism and infrastructure when weighing budget decisions.
