joint budget committee
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Colorado Joint Budget Committee rejects DOC’s $2.4M request for more beds
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The state’s Joint Budget Committee voted on Wednesday to deny the Department of Corrections’ $2.4 million request for additional prison beds, citing the department’s lack of a plan to address its ongoing overcrowding problems. In September, the committee approved the DOC’s $2.8 million supplemental request for additional beds following the governor’s implementation of the Prison…
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Colorado lawmakers hear from chief justice about security needs, new judges
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Chief Justice Monica M. Márquez asked members of the legislature’s Joint Budget Committee on Tuesday to stay the course and fund the 10 new trial judgeships that Colorado lawmakers approved last year, and also explained her vision for enhancing judicial branch security. Responding to questions generated by committee members after a hearing last month on…
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No TABOR refunds this year, as Colorado Gov. Polis warns of tight fiscal outlook
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Gov. Jared Polis on Friday submitted revised budget requests for the next two fiscal years, calling for new public safety spending, changes to Medicaid growth, and renewed efforts to privatize Pinnacol Assurance. Notably, the governor said Colorado residents won’t get refunds from the Taxpayer’s Bill of Rights (TABOR). “We are focused on protecting the issues…
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Pinnacol privatization plan gets cool reception from Colorado legislators
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Should Colorado allow Pinnacol Assurance, the quasi-governmental workers’ compensation company, to go private? The proposal, expected to be on the agenda for the 2026 state legislative session, got its first review on Wednesday from a mostly skeptical Joint Budget Committee. But the proposal did get a thumbs-up – or at least “it makes sense,” according…
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Colorado’s government spending has outpaced inflation, analysis finds
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Colorado’s per-person spending has increased by 31% over the last two decades, despite slowed population growth, according to a new analysis by the Common Sense Institute. The annual report compares state spending by department over the last 20 years, tracking appropriations trends, comparing growth relative to inflation and population, and determining whether Coloradans are likely…
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Colorado legislators review wolf program as funding challenges persist
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Wolves took center stage during a Tuesday review by Colorado legislators of the budget proposal from the Department of Natural Resources, which includes the division that manages the reintroduction program. The Joint Budget Committee reviewed the budget proposal for 2026-27 from the department, with an eye toward potential cuts. The annual budget briefing is an…
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Lawmakers, Gov. Jared Polis clash on Medicaid provider rates
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Colorado legislators on Tuesday heard from an advisory committee, which proposed making several adjustments to the state’s reimbursement rates for health care facilities that provide services to Medicaid patients. The proposal from the Medicaid Provider Rate Review Advisory Committee diverged from Gov. Jared Polis’ own proposed changes outlined in his budget proposal for the next…
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Gov. Jared Polis’ budget proposal faces backlash over Medicaid and Pinnacol deal
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Gov. Jared Polis’ proposed state budget for 2026-27 drew sharp criticism Wednesday from the legislature’s Joint Budget Committee, as lawmakers from both parties criticized plans to slow Medicaid spending growth and rely on a deal to privatize Pinnacol Assurance to generate revenue. Pinnacol, a quasi-state agency, is the state’s largest provider of workers’ compensation insurance.…
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Colorado figured out how to load state money onto EBT cards, officials say
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Colorado officials said they figured out a way to load state funds onto the electronic cards of food stamp recipients. Officials from the Department of Human Services told Colorado Politics they had spoken “extensively” with the vendor for the Electronic Benefits Transfer card. The EBT card is called Colorado Quest. A legislative Joint Budget Committee…
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Gov. Polis proposes privatizing Pinnacol Assurance to address next year’s budget deficit
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Gov. Jared Polis is hoping for a windfall from the privatization of Colorado’s quasi-public workers’ compensation insurance division to cover some of the anticipated deficits in next year’s operating budget. The 2026-27 state budget, as proposed by the governor, amounts to $47.9 billion, which translates to a 5.2% increase over the current budget. That’s twice…
