Looking Forward

By Amy Gillentine
The Colorado Springs Business Journal

The Colorado Trust today launched a new section of its website dedicated to tracking public policy issues that could affect the health and well-being of Coloradans.

The new section of the site, at www.coloradotrust.org/healthpolicy, includes information about federal, state and local laws, regulations, bills, judicial decisions and political events.

The Bell Policy Center, the Colorado Children's Campaign and the Colorado Fiscal Policy Institute delivered a joint letter to members of the legislative Joint Budget Committee (JBC) yesterday outlining four principles they should keep in mind as they struggle to reach final agreement on next year's budget.

By Jack Weinstein
Steamboat Pilot

Steamboat Springs – The panel at Tuesday's Rotary Club of Steamboat Springs weekly luncheon didn't relay good news.

Routt County Manager Tom Sullivan, Steamboat Springs City Manager Jon Roberts, Steamboat Springs School Dis­trict Superintendent Shalee Cun­­ning­­ham and South Routt School District Super­­intendent Scott Mader all said their entities would lose revenue if three ballot measures voters will consider in November were approved.

When you connect the dots, it's easy to see that opposition to Amendments 60 and 61 and Proposition 101 runs from the mountains to the plains, from cities to small towns and from border to border in Colorado.

The Bell is proud to be contributing to the effort to defeat these deceptive and destructive proposals, and we are pleased to report that opposition is growing every day. Check out the list of companies, associations and organizations at www.donthurtcolorado.com. You'll also find out how you can add your group to the list.

Staff members of the Bell will make four speaking appearances in the next few weeks, and we wanted you to be aware of them.

9-11 a.m. Friday, Sept. 11
Looking Forward: The State and Federal Budgets and Their Implications for Colorado Children along with Overview of the State Budget and Pending Cuts

Featuring speakers from the Bell, Colorado Children's Campaign and the Colorado Fiscal Policy Institute; there also will be a panel discussion led by Sen. Moe Keller and a question-and-answer session.

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.

When it comes to the state budget, Colorado is digging a hole.

That's one of the conclusions in a new report, Looking Forward: Colorado's fiscal prospects amid a financial crisis, by the Bell Policy Center, the Colorado Children's Campaign and the Colorado Fiscal Policy Institute.

Executive summary

This report projects the amount Colorado would need to spend to maintain state services at 2007 levels through fiscal year 2012-13 and the amount of revenues that will be generated to pay for them. The costs of services were estimated based on factors that drive the budget, such as the number of students in college, inflation rates and the number of prisoners. It updates our December 2007 Looking Forward report.

To understand how Colorado finds itself in its current fiscal condition, it is helpful to look back at some critical decisions made by legislators and voters over the last 27 years, and at some of the economic and political factors that drove those decisions. (An update of "The Road to 2007," part of "Looking Forward, Colorado's fiscal prospects after Ref C.")