(1) "Base year revenue" means the state sales tax revenue collected during the twelve-month period immediately prior to the month in which a regional tourism project is authorized, as determined by the department of revenue.

(1.5) "Baseline growth rate" means the forecasted growth in state sales tax revenue above the base year revenue that would be collected in a proposed regional tourism zone if the proposed regional tourism project did not occur, as determined pursuant to section 24-46-304 (1.5).

(2) "Commission" means the Colorado economic development commission created in section 24-46-102.

(3) "Director" means the director of the Colorado office of economic development created in section 24-48.5-101.

(4) "Eligible costs" means the costs of designing, constructing, financing, and maintaining eligible improvements designated by the commission as part of an approved regional tourism project, including but not limited to costs of engineering, construction engineering, surveying, construction surveying, construction labor and materials, design, planning, legal services, accounting, overhead or administrative staffing, financing, bond issuance or reissuance, underwriting, interest payments, loan origination fees, and similar necessary and convenient costs incurred by the financing entity in exercising its powers pursuant to this part 3. Moneys advanced by private developers within the regional tourism project to the financing entity for eligible improvements, whether pursuant to loans or contractual funding and reimbursement agreements, together with reasonable interest thereon, shall be eligible costs. In addition, the financing entity's costs for purchasing eligible improvements constructed and owned by third parties either prior to or subsequent to designation of the regional tourism project shall be eligible costs. Costs and expenses incurred by the financing entity pursuant to section 24-35-118 and in complying with its annual report and audit obligations under this part 3 shall be eligible costs.

(5) "Eligible improvements" means the specific improvements authorized by the commission as part of an approved regional tourism project, whether publicly or privately owned, including but not limited to storm sewer and sanitary sewer collection, conveyance, distribution, treatment, and related facilities and real property interests necessary or convenient thereto; potable and nonpotable watersupplies and collection, conveyance, distribution, treatment, and related facilities and real property interests related thereto; roads; streets; state highways; rights-of-way; lighting; traffic signals and signs; direction and location signage and similar signage; land acquisition; surveying, engineering, soils testing, site planning, grading, and similar activities necessary or convenient for site preparation and development; park and recreational facilities; trails and paths; public safety facilities; landscaping; tourism and entertainment facilities; transportation facilities; surface and structured parking facilities; and any other facilities or improvements necessary to or convenient for the completion of an approved project.

(6) "Financing entity" means the entity designated by the commission in connection with its approval of a regional tourism project to receive and utilize state sales tax increment revenue. A financing entity may be a metropolitan district created pursuant to title 32, C.R.S., an urban renewal authority created pursuant to part 1 of article 25 of title 31, C.R.S., or any regional tourism authority to be formed pursuant to this part 3.

(7) "Financing term" means the aggregate period authorized by the commission pursuant to this part 3 within which the financing entity is authorized to receive and utilize state sales tax increment revenue to finance eligible costs.

(7.5) "Gambling-related activities" means any betting, wagering, or payments made on or in connection with one or more games that qualify as gambling as defined in section 18-10-102 (2), or limited gaming as defined in section 9 of article XVIII of the state constitution and section 44-30-103 (22).

(8) "Local government" means a city, county, city and county, or town or a group of contiguous cities, counties, city and counties, or towns.

(9) "Regional tourism authority" or "authority" means a corporate body organized pursuant to this part 3 for the purposes, with the powers, and subject to the restrictions set forth in this part 3 and the formation of which has been approved by the commission pursuant to this part 3.

(10) "Regional tourism project" or "project" means a development project that is planned to include a tourism or entertainment facility together with ancillary uses, structures, and improvements, and that has been approved by the commission pursuant to this part 3.

(11) "Regional tourism zone" means the geographic area defined by the commission as part of an approved regional tourism project. A regional tourism zone shall not extend into the territorial boundaries of any local government except for the local government that is requesting the designation of the regional tourism zone. A regional tourism zone may be limited to portions of a local government and may include noncontiguous tracts or parcels of property.

(12) "State sales tax increment revenue" means the portion of the revenue derived from state sales taxes, including any revenue attributable to the baseline growth rate and not including any sales taxes for remote sales as specified in section 39-26-104 (2), C.R.S., collected within a designated regional tourism zone in excess of the amount of base year revenue.

(13) "Tourism or entertainment facility" means a facility or group of interrelated facilities constructed primarily for use as a tourism or entertainment venue that is reasonably anticipated to draw a significant number of regional, national, or international patrons. A tourism or entertainment facility may include but need not be limited to museums,stadiums, arenas, major sports facilities, performing arts theaters, theme or amusement parks, conference center or resort hotels, or other similar venues. "Tourism or entertainment facility" shall not include any facility or group of interrelated facilities that directly or indirectly offer, make available, or facilitate in any manner one or more gambling-related activities.