cuts

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.

Articles: Gov. Owens spells out Ref C spending in budget plan, What the press is saying about spending Ref C money, What the Ref D failure means for Ref C revenues, How deep the hurt? Restoring past budget cuts will cost millions, More praise for "tireless campaigners"

The Roaring Fork Valley has a higher median income and lower rate of poverty than the rest of the state. However, the number of area residents who lack health insurance or rely solely on public insurance ??? nearly one in every four ??? is near the state average.

The San Luis Valley faces some of the greatest health care challenges in the state. Health care providers serve an area that encompasses about 8,000 square miles. The majority of people served, residents, migrants and seasonal farm workers, rely on public health insurance or have no health insurance coverage at all.

Weld County is growing faster than any other metropolitan area in the nation. Weld County is the third leading agricultural area in the nation, attracting an estimated 6,000 migrant workers every season. Rapid growth means a great demand is placed on the county???s health infrastructure.

The Colorado Department of Local Affairs projects the Grand Valley to grow faster than the Front Range over the next 25 years. Most growth has come in unincorporated areas of the Grand Valley, increasing demand to extend urban health care services to rural areas.

After more than a decade of declining state investment, Colorado???s system of public higher education and adult training is nearing the breaking point. The implications are severe for our families, our businesses, our communities and our future. How did this happen? What is at stake for Coloradans and their communities? And what can be done about it? This booklet offers straightforward answers to these questions.

In Alamosa and Huerfano counties, for a family of four (two adults, one preschooler and one school-age child) to be completely self sufficient, their income must exceed the median earnings of a worker with an associate degree.

Fort Collins and Larimer County face great challenges to providing comprehensive and quality health care to residents.

Mesa State College makes life better in Western Colorado. The college offers more than 100 degree and certificate programs to residents of Grand Junction and neighboring communities. Nine out of 10 Mesa State graduates are Colorado residents, and eight out of 10 live and work in Colorado after graduation.