The last governor to back a bond issue for transportation is backing a new one – the one that doesn’t raise taxes.

Republican Bill Owens is formally throwing his support behind the Fix Our Damn Roads proposal on the November ballot.

Proposition 109, as it’s formally called, would require the legislature to issue $3.5 billion in bonds and repay them with tax already in the state budget. The money would go to high-priority roads and bridges, without a detour into transit.

It’s up against Proposition 110, a countermeasure called Let’s Go, Colorado that asks voters to approve a 0.62 percent statewide sales tax for state highway projects, local governments’ wish lists and multimodal transportation like commuter rail, buses and bike lanes.

RELATED: Colorado stuck at a crossroads: Leaders look ahead on transportation

Jon Caldara, president of the Independence Institute, the driving force behind “Fix Our Damn Roads,” announced Owens’ official support Friday evening.

“We’re thrilled to have Governor Owens get behind this important effort,” he said.

Owens joins Colorado Springs Mayor John Suthers, the former state attorney general, among other supporters of Proposition 112.

Owens was governor from 1999 to 2008. In 1999, he led the passage of Referendum A, which put nearly $1.7 billion in Transportation Revenue Anticipation Notes, referred to as TRANs bonds.

Voters passed the ballot question that relied on no new taxes 68 percent to 32 percent. The centerpiece of the measure was the the massive T-REX highway expansion and rail project in metro Denver.

Fix Our Damn Roads is characterized by supporters as a model based on Owens’ signature transportation accomplishment nearly two decades ago.

“Everyone said it couldn’t be done,” Owens said in a statement provided to Colorado Politics. “But voters saw the value in investing in road infrastructure without raising taxes.

“The measure passed, the notes were issued and the projects were completed on time and on budget. I urge Colorado voters to similarly get behind Prop 109.”