general fund
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Economists: Colorado budget improves slightly, but deficits still loom
State economists reported a stronger-than-expected bump in general fund revenue driven largely by higher individual income tax collections, yet warned that Colorado remains on track to begin the next fiscal year with a sizable shortfall. State economists upgraded “significantly” the amount of general fund revenue the state is taking in this year from their March…
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Road-funding amendment divides Colorado over $539M general fund shift
A battle is brewing over funding for Colorado’s roads after a citizen initiative has been cleared to gather signatures to put it on the ballot for voters to decide. Supporters of the proposed constitutional amendment that would change existing law on transportation funding and increase state revenue allotted for road transportation said it would end…
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Colorado lawmakers sign off on $10 million for food assistance as SNAP benefits are poised to run out
A panel of Colorado legislators on Thursday approved a $10 million cash infusion into food assistance for residents who are expected to lose food stamp benefits starting on Saturday amid the federal government shutdown. But state policymakers and budget staffers said they fear that the plan is riddled with “holes,” describing it as akin to…
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Denver Public Schools’ Superintendent explains where money saved by job cuts will go
Denver Public Schools’ Superintendent Alex Marrero provided insight into the district’s reorganization plan Thursday evening and explained where the $9 million the district will save by cutting over 70 jobs will go. Marrero told the district’s board of education during an executive session that the $9 million – or 6.8% of the general fund –…
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Colorado revenue forecast: Severance taxes on the rebound
Colorado economists reported Wednesday that the state’s severance tax revenues from oil and gas operations – in the doldrums for the past several years due to low oil prices – are on the rebound in a big way. State lawmakers also can anticipate another healthy year of corporate and individual income tax growth, and that may…
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THE PODIUM: It’s time to make transportation a priority for our tax dollars
In the 20-year period since 1997 spanning three governorships – those of Bill Owens, Bill Ritter and John Hickenlooper – one governor stands out as proposing starvation budgets for Colorado’s state highways and roadways. That governor is John Hickenlooper. We are talking about each governor’s priorities for spending taxpayer dollars through the General Fund budget,…
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Noonan: More school funding not enough to achieve significant proficiency improvements
The state boosted its per pupil funding for public school students by 2.8 percent out of the General Fund to $6,585,800,182 for 2017-2018. That number works out to $6,546.20 per student, according to Senate Bill 17-296. Adding other sources, the Colorado Department of Education estimates that the average per pupil funding for next year will…
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Guzman: A solution for our rural hospitals
Delta. Montrose. Lincoln. Teller. Fremont. Las Animas. Morgan. Garfield. These are a handful of counties in rural Colorado that are home to hospitals. Hospitals that not only provide access to life-saving health care for residents, but are most likely the area’s largest employer. These hospitals are typically smaller than their urban counterparts, but they are…
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Reading transportation tea leaves in Grantham’s note to constituents
Senate President Kevin Grantham seems confident a quarter of the way into the legislative session that lawmakers are moving toward tackling the session’s big priority item: They’re going to agree to raise funds for desperately needed transportation upgrades around the state. That’s what he told constituents in his periodic “Dome to Home” newsletter this weekend.…
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Denver City Council starts 2017 budget review
Denver City Council members started a more than two-month-long city budget review process Monday with explanations from Mayor Michael Hancock’s administration about how they developed the proposed $1.9 billion spending plan for the coming year. In a council work session, chief financial officer Brendan Hanlon said the budget assumes Denver’s economy will continue to grow,…