Colorado Budget Realities

Friends,

Friday, the Senate finished deliberations on the "long bill," which determines Colorado’s 2010-11 budget, and it has been sent to the Governor. With few dollars to be divided amongst our departments and programs, the debate this year was shorter than usual. I have attached a budget handout that summarizes Colorado's current financial situation. We made our best effort to fund Colorado's essential programs, yet K-12 education regrettably took a significant cut. Balancing the budget was no easy task with a $2 billion shortfall over two fiscal years. I would like to acknowledge the work of the Joint Budget Committee, the group with the difficult task of working through the 619 page budget and bringing forward the "long bill." Have a look, stay informed, and be sure to contact me with any questions or ideas.

All the best,

Gail Schwartz