Colorado Politics

Hickenlooper presents last state budget request

Colorado’s John Hickenlooper has presented his last budget request as governor to lawmakers – one he says helps prepare the state for an eventual recession.

Hickenlooper spoke on Friday before the Legislature’s Joint Budget Committee. The bipartisan panel will use the proposal in fashioning a state budget for fiscal years 2019-2020 during next year’s legislative session.

The governor’s $33.4 billion request is nearly 5 percent above the current budget.

It includes $13.2 billion in discretionary spending and would increase state reserves from 7.25 percent to 8 percent of that amount to prepare for an economic downturn.

Hickenlooper calls the request “a responsible one in the sense of accommodating what we can’t see.”

The Democratic governor has served the maximum two terms and leaves office in January.

Colorado Gov. John Hickenlooper is pictured during a Sept. 27 interview in his office at the Capitol. Photo by Andy Colwell/Colorado Politics)
Andy Colwell
Tags

PREV

PREVIOUS

Anger erupts over Colorado Springs' lack of affordable housing during city meeting

Tempers flared at a Colorado Springs town hall Thursday night amid concerns that the city isn’t addressing homelessness fast enough – particularly when it comes to helping families. Roughly 100 people packed the third of six meetings planned to gather input on the city’s latest eight-point action plan to address homelessness announced in October. Several […]

NEXT

NEXT UP

State senator wants AG review of Hickenlooper's Tesla connections

Update: the Air Quality Control Commission voted 8-0 with one recusal Friday afternoon to approve the rules on low-emission vehicles. Republican state Sen. John Cooke of Greeley has asked Attorney General Cynthia Coffman to investigate whether Gov. John Hickenlooper broke the law by allegedly touring a Tesla electric-car factory in Nevada shortly before ordering the […]


Welcome Back.

Streak: 9 days i

Stories you've missed since your last login:

Stories you've saved for later:

Recommended stories based on your interests:

Edit my interests