Colorado oil and gas task force recommendations are part of state's $26 million budget

Elements of the nine recommendations put forward by the 21-member oil and gas task force created by Colorado Gov. John Hickenlooper, aimed at calming the controversy over drilling rigs working in and around Colorado communities, were part of the $26.4 billion budget for next year that Hickenlooper signed into law Friday.

The budget includes:

$1,364,713 to pay for 12 new employees for the Colorado Oil and Gas Conservation Commission (COGCC), the state agency charged with overseeing the state’s…