Posted inNews

Here’s what’s in the $36 billion state budget proposal now being debated by Colorado lawmakers

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 […]

Posted inEducation, News, Politics and Government

Proposition 119: Colorado voters will decide whether to raise marijuana taxes to pay for out-of-school learning

Colorado voters will decide next month whether to raise taxes on recreational marijuana to help fund a new state program aimed at providing Colorado students with out-of-school learning opportunities. The program, called Learning Enrichment and Academic Progress, or LEAP, would pay service providers, like private tutoring companies or even public school teachers looking for extra […]

Posted inEconomy, News, Politics and Government

Housing, workforce development, infrastructure: How Colorado Democrats plan to spend $3.8B in federal aid

Colorado Democrats on Monday unveiled the broad strokes of how they plan to spend $3.8 billion in federal coronavirus stimulus money being sent to state government, prioritizing affordable housing, workforce development and infrastructure projects. More than half of the money — $2 billion — will be allocated before the 2021 legislative session ends by June […]

Posted inEducation, News, Politics and Government

Colorado’s 2022 budget boosts K-12 spending, reverses higher ed cuts

By Jason Gonzales and Erica Meltzer, Chalkbeat Colorado Colorado’s $34.1 billion proposed state budget restores deep cuts made last year to K-12 and higher education, provides more money to help students who have traditionally struggled to complete college, and creates a substantial reserve for K-12 schools that could lay the groundwork for future reforms — if […]

Posted inEconomy, News, Politics and Government

Gov. Jared Polis wanted quick action on his $1.3 billion stimulus plan. Colorado lawmakers want more time.

Three months ago, Gov. Jared Polis put forward a $1.3 billion stimulus plan and asked Colorado lawmakers to fast-track the measures.  On Thursday, the General Assembly said not so fast. Instead of inserting the governor’s November spending requests into a supplemental budget package being drafted now, the proposals will move ahead in separate legislation for […]

Posted inBusiness, Economy, Growth, Housing, News, Politics and Government

Colorado’s stagnant budget isn’t helping the shrinking middle class, report finds

Colorado’s middle class is shrinking, and the lifestyle long associated with it — home ownership, a car, college savings and occasional vacations — is getting harder to achieve.  That’s been the economic trend in the state, and across the country, for decades. But new research suggests Colorado’s public investments — or lack of them — […]

Posted inPolitics and Government

The top story in Colorado politics in 2020 — and what to expect in 2021

If you enjoy politics, 2020 didn’t disappoint. And if you don’t, it probably left your head spinning. The year started with talk about the impeachment of President Donald Trump, the Democratic presidential primary and the battle for a U.S. Senate seat in Colorado. Then, the pandemic quickly upended the political landscape — and the conversation. […]