The full Colorado legislature this week began debating a $36 billion state budget proposal that, buoyed by a strong economic recovery from the coronavirus pandemic and a flood of federal stimulus dollars, would boost funding to K-12 and higher education, give state employees a 3% raise and expand state efforts to improve public safety and […]
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Posted inElection 2020, Politics and Government
Colorado governor says his $1.3 billion stimulus plan would create up to 15,000 jobs, but questions abound
Colorado Gov. Jared Polis on Thursday asked state lawmakers to spend $1.3 billion on an economic stimulus package that he said would create up to 15,000 jobs and boost the state’s economy by 11% over current projections. “Making these investments now with this one-time money will help restore economic growth faster and better, and shrink […]
Posted inPolitics and Government
Colorado lawmakers made billions in cuts to finish the budget. Now Gov. Polis may need to make even more.
In the final hours of the lawmaking session, the General Assembly finalized a $30.3 billion state budget after weeks of difficult work to close a $3 billion deficit. Instead of expressing relief at the finish line, the top legislative budget writer issued a warning. “For those of you who haven’t heard the news flash, next […]
Posted inNews, Politics and Government
Colorado is the only state without a rainy day fund. Now the coronavirus means it will pay the price.
In early February, the governor’s office and state treasurer issued a warning to lawmakers: Colorado is the only state in the nation without a rainy day fund to buffer against a recession. Now is the time the state should save for a downturn, they said, before it’s too late. “We all know that the economy, […]
Posted inCOVID, Crime and Courts, Education, News, Politics and Government
Coronavirus is threatening school safety efforts prompted by STEM School Highlands Ranch shooting
Colorado lawmakers spent the months after the STEM School Highlands Ranch shooting last year trying to find policy avenues to improve school safety. But now, a year after the attack that left one student, 18-year-old Kendrick Castillo, dead and several more wounded, the slate of measures they drafted to try to keep students and teachers […]
Posted inBusiness, Education, Politics and Government
Colorado lawmakers are looking at how to close a $3 billion budget shortfall. Here’s the roadmap.
The impact of the coronavirus pandemic on the $30 billion-plus state budget begins to take shape this week as lawmakers consider massive spending cuts. How much tax revenue Colorado will lose to the paralyzed economy remains uncertain, but the governor’s budget office is projecting $3 billion in lost revenue for the current fiscal year and […]