Take a Saturday to help shape Colorado's future

Several months ago, we wrote you about "TBD Colorado" – Gov. John Hickenlooper's non-partisan, collaborative effort to spark informed and constructive conversations among Coloradans about some of the biggest issues facing the state.

More than a thousand Coloradans have invested a great deal of time in community meetings to learn about the state's budget, education, health care and transportation systems and personnel challenges. Then, they considered policy options.

This month, the second phase of the process will play out in five regional summits, and we urge you to attend one of them if you can.

At the summits, participants will have the opportunity to:

• Create a state budget that reflects the priorities of their regions
• Have meaningful conversations about the trade-offs of implementing different policy options
• Identify top policy priorities
• Hear (in real-time) the results of the other summits

The summits will feature a new version of Backseat Budgeter (click here for 9News story about this tool) that will include "TBD Colorado" options in an interactive simulation that builds a state budget. (This award-winning public service tool, presented by Engaged Public, allows users to learn about state expenditures and revenues and to make choices about spending and investments.)

Summit participants will put their heads together to create a balanced budget, and they will have to contend with the same set of constitutional requirements as lawmakers.

Space for each summit is limited to between 150 and 175 participants, so please RSVP today, or no later than Friday. Click on the link for the summit you would like to attend:

• Durango: Saturday, June 9 (9 a.m. - 3 p.m.)
• Glenwood Springs: Saturday, June 9 (9 a.m. - 3 p.m.)
• Pueblo: Saturday, June 9 (9 a.m. - 3 p.m.)
• Colorado Springs: Saturday, June 23 (9 a.m. - 3 p.m.)
• Greeley: Saturday, June 23 (9 a.m. - 3 p.m.)

Detailed information will be emailed to participants after registration.