enterprise zones

Legislators gather tomorrow for the start of the 2012 General Assembly, and we wanted to share some of our priorities for the session.

We have been saying for several years that Colorado's enterprise zone program has not been effective at promoting economic growth.

In 2009, we released a review of research that showed enterprise zone tax credits resulted in minimal long-term investment and few, if any, jobs – the primary objectives when the program was established in 1987.

Gov. Bill Ritter recently signed two bills to restructure Colorado's enterprise zone program.

We believe these bills are important because they will:

Jon Nicholas
Estes Park Trail
Guest column
Feb. 5, 2010

Given the continuing budget crisis in Colorado, Democrats would like business to share in some of the pain. Governor Ritter's current budget strategy, however, might explain why he will not stand for re-election.

Prepared Testimony to the Joint Meeting of the House and Senate Finance Committees
Colorado General Assembly

Wade Buchanan
President, The Bell Policy Center
November 12, 2009

Thank you for the opportunity to speak to you today.

Gov. Bill Ritter presented his budget for fiscal year 2010-11 to members of the Joint Budget Committee today.

He is requesting a $7.2 billion General Fund budget for fiscal year 2010-2011, which begins on July 1, 2010. This budget closes a $1 billion shortfall between projected General Fund revenues and expenditures and comes on the heels of a $2 billion shortfall in fiscal year 2009-10.

The Denver Metro Chamber of Commerce has delivered a list of business tax breaks to the governor's office that it thinks should be preserved to prevent damaging the state's economic recovery.

Letter to the editor, The Daily Camera

We need to discuss the role of government in our society.

Republican state senator David Schulthesis of Colorado Springs has proposed essentially ending public social services and letting the churches and private charities take care of the down-and-out.

Can we get serious? Vital programs were cut by $320 million in August. Now the Legislative Council says Colorado has to deal with an additional $250 million shortfall for the current fiscal year 2009-10.

(Rich Jones and George Awuor quoted in article. First few paragraphs of article appear below.)

By Andy Vuong
The Denver Post

Last fall, a group of powerful Colorado business leaders set their sights on passing
legislation to create millions of dollars in annual tax breaks for marquee venues that
would draw tourists.