The Colorado Independent

Colorado state budget researcher: ‘We’re headed off a cliff’

By John Tomasic | 09.01.11 | 8:53 am

There is nowhere near enough money for Colorado to continue to do the business of the state as things stand, according to an influential team of researchers at the University of Denver. State lawmakers will either have to raise more money or cut away the kind of programs and services most Americans view as measures of the baseline quality of life achieved over centuries in the world’s wealthiest nation.

June revenue forecast stronger than expected

By Scot Kersgaard | 06.20.11 | 3:32 pm

The Colorado Legislative Council today released its quarterly forecast, showing that the state is bringing in more money than expected and that Colorado seems to be recovering from the recession at a slightly faster pace than the country as a whole.

VIDEO: How to fix the Colorado budget? Talk about it

By Scot Kersgaard | 06.01.11 | 1:27 pm

Now that this year’s legislative session is safely behind us, maybe it’s time to talk about the state budget. That, anyway, seems to be the premise behind a video released today by the Bell Policy Center and ProgressNow Colorado.

(Image: Flickr Creative Commons/David Beyer)

Colorado could balance budget with a less regressive tax code

By Scot Kersgaard | 05.26.11 | 11:16 am

A new report by United for a Fair Economy shows how Colorado’s fiscal problems could be fixed by flipping its regressive tax system.

Fee increases could cause 2,000 children to go without health insurance

By Joseph Boven | 04.14.11 | 2:34 pm

As the long bill passed the House on 3rd and final reading Thursday, a JBC-initiated bill that may cause 2,000 low-income children to drop out of a Colorado health care assistance program also won the Legislature’s approval.

House bill could strip millions from state revenue

By Joseph Boven | 04.07.11 | 9:25 am

The bipartisan hug issued around the Legislature after a compromise on the state budget Tuesday was broken Wednesday as House Republicans passed a bill exempting businesses from business personal property taxes.

Joint Budget Committee compromises, introduces budget

By Joseph Boven | 04.06.11 | 12:59 pm

The Joint Budget Committee comes to terms on budget and averts a stand-off. Bill restores some education funding and scales back some PERA contributions.

Agreement reached on budget as both sides compromise

By Joseph Boven | 04.05.11 | 2:44 pm

A tentative budget agreement was struck between Senate Democrats and House Republicans this morning after Democrats agreed to satellite legislation that has been the sticking point for Republicans.

Budget long bill still in dispute–process shrouded in secrecy

By Joseph Boven | 04.05.11 | 8:03 am

The long bill, scheduled to drop over a week ago and again expected to hit the floor of the Senate Monday, is still hung up in the Joint Budget Committee (JBC) where Senate Democrats say House Republicans have been unwilling to budge on tax breaks.