state revenue

We've told you before about "TBD Colorado," Gov. John Hickenlooper's non-partisan, collaborative effort to create informed and constructive conversations among Coloradans about some of the biggest issues facing the state.

TBD has been working hard to get Coloradans talking and to provide ways for residents to speak up and shape the future of our state. The latest effort is a series of videos on important issues and a Facebook page where you can answer survey questions.

The Bell Policy Center board of directors has endorsed the Bright Colorado initiative to temporarily return state tax rates to the level they were in 1999 while the state searches for a more permanent solution to its long-term structural deficit.

Emailed to supporters July 20, 2009

Commentary in Post
says declining revenues
will harm Colorado

On Sunday, The Denver Post published a commentary by Wade Buchanan, Chris Watney of the Colorado Children's Campaign and Carol Hedges of the Colorado Fiscal Policy Institute. We wanted to share it, in case you missed it.

Colorado's budget: Untie state's hands

By Wade Buchanan, Chris Watney and Carol Hedges

The Denver Post
Guest commentary
(Editor's note: This guest commentary is part of a point-counterpoint about Colorado's budget crisis. Companion commentary by Barry Poulson.)

By Wade Buchanan, Chris Watney and Carol Hedges

This year, Colorado's General Fund revenues will hit their lowest point in recent history, and the implications are dire for the state and its residents.

By Rich Jones
Director of policy and research
jones@thebell.org

State revenues will fall about $250 million short of appropriations for the fiscal year that ends next week, according testimony today by state economists before the Joint Budget Committee. Estimates from the economists are worse than their projections in March and show that the state's economy was weaker than anticipated in the second quarter.