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Colorado state budget
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Contents
--------

1. Budget Background

1. Accounting Principles

2.1 Accounting transparency checklist

2.1.1 The good

2.1.2 The bad

1. 2009-2010 budget crisis

3.1 Proposed legislation

1. Budget transparency

4.1 Website evaluation

4.1.1 The good

4.1.2 The bad

4.2 Government tools

4.3 Economic Stimulus Transparency

4.3.1 Error in ARRP

1. See Also

1. External links

1. Additional reading

1. References

National Taxpayers Union

Transparency in your state
Public employee salary
States with spending online
Collaborative transparency projects
Model transparency legislation
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Colorado is facing what the University of Denver's Center for
Colorado’s Economic Future has described as an “Economic Tsunami” - a
$1.5 billion budget gap for the upcoming FY 2011 budget. In January
2010 Gov. Bill Ritter proposed a $260 million cut in funding for K-12
schools and a sales tax on candy and soda which is estimated to raise
$312 million.12

On April 9, 2010, the Colorado Senate passed an $18.2 billion budget
bill by 22-13 vote with only one Republican, Sen. Al White of Hayden,
a member of the Joint Budget Committee, voting in favor of the bill.3
Republicans had previously called for across-the-board cuts from state
agencies, the largest of which would have cut $396.8 million from the
general fund and cash fund appropriations to state agencies, but
Senate Democrats rejected that plan.4

The passwed budget bill returns to the House, which may request a
conference committee to iron out differences with the Senate before it
can go to Gov. Bill Ritter.

The plan reflects 6 percent growth, or about $400 million more, in the
state's general-fund spending over the current fiscal year.3

Highlights of that budget include3: A $260 million, or a 6 percent,
cut to aid for public schools, a move that districts say will result
in teacher layoffs and larger class sizes.

Elimination of various tax exemptions and credits, mostly for
 businesses, that could generate as much as $140 million in
 additional revenue for the state.

A $61.5 million, or an 8.7 percent, net reduction to colleges and
 universities.

A $93 million cut, or a complete elimination for one year, of the
 state's Homestead Exemption property-tax break for seniors.

A 2.5 percent reduction to state employee paychecks to help shore
 up their pension plan.

A $17.9 million cut to Medicaid providers.

A $6.3 million cut, or a 0.9 percent reduction, to the Department
 of Corrections.

A $257 million, or a 5.9 percent, increase to the Department of
 Health Care Policy and Financing, an increase primarily owing to
 forecasted growth in the state's Medicaid population and for kids
 served in the Children's Basic Health Plan and to an increase in
 federal matching funds resulting from a new fee on hospitals.

A $3.1 million, or 0.1 percent, increase to the Department of
 Human Services, a budget that reflects $29 million in federal
 stimulus money disappearing and being replaced with general-fund
 money and facilities for the mentally ill and developmentally
 disabled in Fort Logan and Grand Junction being closed.

The Colorado General Assembly had just ended its session on May 6,
2009 having addressed a $1.454 billion, two-year shortfall when a
subsequent economic forecast on June 22, 2009 showed a new state
deficit well over $300 million.56 Gov. Bill Ritter announced
August 18, 2009 his plan to close the latest $320 million budget gap
for the current FY 2010 (July 1, 2009 - June 30, 2010).7 Gov.
Ritter’s plan included a nine percent overall reduction in spending
that includes $263 million in cuts and eliminating 270 full-time
equivalent state positions. 8 The Colorado General Assembly took
measures during the 2009 Session to balance the $7.5 billion FY 2010
General Fund budget.9

Colorado anticipates being hit with another budget deficit of $500
million for FY 2011. 10

edit Budget Background
------------------------

Colorado’s state revenue increased annually 1.9 percent for the period
from FY 1999 to FY 2009 while three of its largest General Fund
appropriations (K-12, Corrections, and Health) grew 5.4 percent each
year on average. These three spending categories have grown from 54
percent of the General Fund budget in 1999 to 76 percent within a
decade. They are estimated to increase their portion of the budget to
91 percent in five years. 11

Colorado's fiscal year begins July 1 and ends June 30. State
departments submit their budget proposals to the Governor's Office of
State Planning and Budgeting as part of the executive budget process.
The governor and his staff review the budget proposals and limit each
department's budget request based on the governor's priorities, and
they determine which new funding initiatives may be included in the
request. 12 Departments submit budgets to the Joint Budget Committee
by November 1. Shortly thereafter the committee schedules hearings
with each agency. The staff analysts brief the Committee on each
budget request a few days prior to the hearing with a department.
Briefings and hearings for most departments are scheduled in November
and December. By February 1, the Legislature is required to certify,
by joint resolution, the amount from the state's General Fund
available for appropriation for the next fiscal year. Once the General
Assembly convenes in early January a series of hearings and joint
budget meetings that run both through the House and the Senate. Both
houses must accept the final bill before it is signed into law. 13

See Colorado state budget (2008-2009) for more information.

General Fund Revenue Collections: FY 08-09 compared to FY 07-0814

FY 2008

FY 2009

Percent Change

Individual Income

$4,974

$4,424

-11.1%

Corporate Income

507.9

350.9

-30.9%

Excise/Sales Taxes

2,411

2,265

-6.0%

Other

258.1

246.4

-4.5%

Total

8,151

7,287

-10.5%

All figures in millions, and include revenues collected for State
Education Fund, based on March 2009 forecast.

edit Accounting Principles
----------------------------

Office of the State Auditor reports to The Legislative Audit Committee.
The Legislative Audit Committee (LAC) is a permanent standing
committee comprised of four senators and four representatives with
equal representation from the two major political parties. The
Committee is responsible for reviewing and releasing audit reports and
recommending special studies. The LAC also recommends an appointment
for State Auditor to the leadership of the General Assembly every five
years. Sally Symanski is Colorado’s state auditor. Audit reports are
published online.15

Credit Rating

Fitch

Moody's

S&P

Colorado16

NR

Aa3

AA

The Institute for Truth in Accounting (IFTA) rates Colorado “Timely”
in filing the state’s Comprehensive Annual Financial Report (CAFR) –
the annual report of state and local governmental entities. IFTA rated
22 states timely, 22 states tardy, and 6 states as worst. IFTA does
not consider Colorado’s CAFRs, and those of the other states, to be
accurate representations of the state’s financial condition because
the Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP) basis does not
include significant liabilities for the pension plans and for other
post employment benefits, such as health care.17 Colorado’s state
controller is responsible for filing the CAFR. The state controller is
David J. McDermott, appointed April 1, 2008.18

edit Accounting transparency checklist

---------------------------------------------------------------------

Comprehensive

Balanced budget

Timeliness

Usability

edit The good

The website has Comprehensive Annual Financial Report (CAFR)
dating back to 1995.

It provides supplements to the budget workup, such as notes.19

An independent auditor’s report is published within the CAFR on
 page 16.

The CAFR compares estimated and actual budgetary numbers in a
 separate report.20

The budget is posted using organized and consistent methods of
 financial reporting.

Colorado law requires a balanced budget and prohibits a deficit at
 the end of the year to be carried over to the following year.

It includes all costs incurred by the government, including future
 liabilities between pages 102 and 121 of the report.

edit The bad

The CAFR is posted in a PDF format, so it’s not searchable online.

edit 2009-2010 budget crisis
------------------------------

Gov. Ritter’s plan has a 9% overall reduction in spending that
includes $263 million in cuts and eliminating 270 full-time equivalent
state positions.821 The Colorado General Assembly took measures
during the 2009 Session to balance the $7.5 billion FY 2010 General
Fund budget, some of which include: 9

$760 million from one-time federal stimulus money22

$77 million in cuts

255 million in new taxes

Furlough days (8 per year) for state employees

Wage freezes

Hiring freezes

Transfer of $35 million from tobacco money to General Fund

One-year suspension of senior citizen property tax exemption for
 $90 million

Reduced percentage of sales tax collected vendors can keep for
 administrative costs from 3.33 percent to 1.35 percent% to
 increase state revenue an estimated $93.3 million over the next 3
 ½ years.23

edit Proposed legislation

Proposed bills: Approximately 12 bills have been introduced to the
House which could suspend, eliminate or reduce a number of existing
state tax exemptions in Colorado. If approved the proposed legislation
would take effect March 1, 2010.24

November 2010 ballot: Three ballot measures are scheduled to appear on
the November 2, 2010 statewide ballot - Proposition 101 and Amendments
60 and 61. Proposition 101 would make amendments to current vehicle,
income and telecommunications taxes and fees. Amendment 60 proposes
limiting how property taxes are raised and reversing recent tax laws
which increased taxes. Amendment 61 calls for prohibiting borrowing by
state or local government and require voter approval for future loans.
Gov. Bill Ritter is urging that residents vote down all three measures
because according to Ritter the measures would "would shut down
colleges and prisons, increase class sizes, put thousands of teachers
out of work and prevent the repair of unsafe roads and bridges."25

Eliminate tax exemptions & add new taxes: In Fall 2009 the governor
proposed eliminating 13 existing tax exemptions starting in July 2010,
however, in light of recent revenue reports in January 2010 the
governor proposed eliminating 7 tax exemptions in March 2010 instead
of July. Eliminating 7 of the existing tax exemptions is estimated to
generate $18 million. All 13 tax exemptions, when eliminated, were
estimated to generate $132 million. The governor is proposing to cut a
total of $600 million from the current year's budget. For example: the
industrial energy use sales tax is estimated to bring in $48 million
in revenue per year; a candy and soft drinks tax would generate $7.9
million per year; and a pesticides tax would generate $2.9 million.26

edit Budget transparency
--------------------------

Colorado currently does not have a statewide spending database online,
but the state will have one by no later than January, 2010.27
According to Governor Ritter's 2009 State of the State address,
"...we're making government more modern and transparent by putting
more services online and soon, working with Treasurer Kennedy's Office
and Representative Marostica, we'll have the state's checkbook
online."28

On June 4, 2009, Governor Ritter signed Colorado House Bill 1288, the
"Colorado Taxpayer Transparency Act," into law. HB 1288 mandates the
creation of an online spending database by no later than January,
2010.29 This law will increase Colorado's transparency beyond what
Governor Ritter's original executive order (from April 2, 2009) had
required.3031

edit Website evaluation

Budget

Usability

Elected Officials

Administrative Officials

Ethics

Audits

Contracts

Lobbying

Public records

Taxes

Colorado.gov is the website for the state of Colorado.

Main article: Evaluation of state websites

edit The good

Site has a search function and is fairly easy to navigate.

Budget is published.32

Elected officials are listed with contact information.33

Administrative officials listed with contact information under
 respective departments.34

State tax information is posted.35

Information on the state ethics commission is available.36

Financial audits are published.37

Includes information on making requests under the Colorado Open
 Records Act38, as well as a CORA FAQ from the Attorney General.39

edit The bad

Information on lobbying is provided, but not on Colorado
 taxpayer-funded lobbying.40

The state is in the process of creating a contracts database, but
 as of July 18, 2009 it was not online.41

edit Government tools

The following table is helpful in evaluating the level of transparency
provided by a state spending and transparency database:

Criteria for evaluating spending databases

State Database

Searchability

Grants

Contracts

Line Item Expenditures

Dept/Agency Budgets

Public Employee Salary

Colorado T.O.P.

edit Economic Stimulus Transparency

The American Recovery and Reinvestment Plan of 2009 designated
 $787 billion to be spent throughout the U.S. Of that $787 billion
 stimulus package, it is estimated that 69%, or over $541 billion,
 will be administered by state governments.42

It is estimated that Colorado will receive $3,232,477,903 in
 federal funding.43 In the next two years, that number is
 expected to be approximately $85 billion.44

U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan announced on April 12,
 2010, that Colorado would receive $39,731,239 million to turn
 around its persistently lowest achieving schools through the
 School Improvement Grants (SIG) program, which was part of ARRP.45

The economic recovery website for Colorado is available here.

edit Error in ARRP

On November 16 and 17, 2009, many errors were found in the $747
billion plan that showed the plan set aside money for districts that
do not exist. According to Recovery.gov, the plan shows its funds will
go to 884 Congressional Districts, though there are only 435.4647

Colorado appears to have 10 extra Districts, according to where ARRP
money went, including District 00, which received over $10 million.48

edit See Also
---------------

Colorado taxpayer-funded lobbying

Colorado state budget (2008-2009)

edit External links
---------------------

Colorado state and local spending

Gov. Ritter's 2010 State of the State Speech - video

Gov. Ritter's 2010 State of the State Speech - text

Colorado Budget Cycle Calendar

Model transparency legislation from the American Legislative
 Exchange Council is available at this link.

Independence Institute

Governor's Office of State Planning and Budgeting

Colorado Department of the Treasury

Colorado Government spending

Colorado Council on the Arts

edit Additional reading
-------------------------

Fort Collins Coloradoan,"Northern Colorado may be slow to see
 economic upswing," January 24, 2010

Wall Street Journal,"Prison Operators Fall On Concerns About State
 Budget Cuts," January 21, 2010

Denver Business Journal,"Budget, business top agenda as Colorado
 Legislature opens 2010 session," January 13, 2010

Denver Business Journal,"House GOP leader May’s opening-day speech
 to Colorado Legislature," January 13, 2010

edit References
-----------------

1. ↑ Associated Press,"Colorado Lawmakers to Tackle Difficult Budget
  Cuts," January 11, 2010

2. ↑ Associated Press,"Colorado Lawmakers Cutting Budget to the
  Bone," January 11, 2010

3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 The Denver Post "'Ashamed' senators pass Colorado
  budget" April 10, 2010

4. ↑ Denver Post "GOP thwarted as Colorado Senate advances budget
  April 9, 2010

5. ↑ The Capstone Group, “2009 Session Summary,” May 6, 2009

6. ↑ University of Denver, Center for Colorado’s Economic Future,
  “Colorado’s State Budget Tsunami,” July 2009

7. ↑ Gov. Ritter’s Office, “Press Release: $320 M Budget-Balancing
  Plan,” August 18, 2009

8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 Gov. Ritter’s Office, “Press Release: $320 M
  Budget-Balancing Plan,” August 18, 2009

9. ↑ 9.0 9.1 Colorado Capitol Journal, “House Gives Final OK to FY
  2010 Budget,” Friday, April 17, 2009

10. ↑ University of Denver, Center for Colorado’s Economic Future,
  “Colorado’s State Budget Tsunami,” July 2009

11. ↑ University of Denver, Center for Colorado’s Economic Future,
  “Colorado’s State Budget Tsunami,” July 2009

12. ↑ State of Colorado,"Budget Process and schedule," retrieved
  March 19,2009

13. ↑ State of Colorado, "The role of the Joint Budget Committee in
  the budget process," retrieved March 19, 2009

14. ↑ Tomlinson & Associates, “2009 Colorado General Assembly
  Legislative Session Review,” June 6, 2009

15. ↑ Office of the State Auditor Web site, retrieved October 11,
  2009

16. ↑ "State of Indiana", “State Credit Ratings-as of June 24, 2009

17. ↑ Institute for Truth in Accounting, “The Truth About Balanced
  Budgets—A Fifty State Study,” Page 35

18. ↑ Office of the State Controller Web site, retrieved October 12,
  2009

19. ↑ 2007-08 CAFR

20. ↑ Budget-to-Actual Detail Report

21. ↑ Associated Press,"Governors facing troubles as economy hits
  home," January 9, 2010

22. ↑ Colorado Economic Recovery Accountability Board, “Overview of
  the SFSF,” June 11, 2009

23. ↑ Denver Business Journal, “Colorado businesses keep smaller
  share of sales-tax revenue under new law,” March 3, 2009

24. ↑ The Longmont Times-Call,"House focuses on tax issues," January
  23, 2010

25. ↑ Associated Press,"Ritter urges Colorado lawmakers to fight
  budget initiatives," January 14, 2010

26. ↑ Associated Press,"Colo. gov wants to speed up candy, soda tax
  plan," January 21, 2010

27. ↑ Colorado Taxpayer Transparency Act

28. ↑ Denver Post, "Full planned text of Ritter's State of the State
  speech," January 8, 2009

29. ↑ Colorado Taxpayer Transparency Act

30. ↑ National Taxpayers Union, "Transparency Has Arrived in
  Colorado," June 8, 2009

31. ↑ National Taxpayers Union, "Taxpayer Group: Three Reasons Gov.
  Ritter's Transparency Order Doesn't Shed Light on Denver," April
  2, 2009

32. ↑ Budget documents

33. ↑ Elected Officials

34. ↑ Departments

35. ↑ Taxes

36. ↑ Ethics Commission

37. ↑ CAFR

38. ↑ CORA

39. ↑ CORA FAQ

40. ↑ Lobbying

41. ↑ Contracts Database

42. ↑ National Taxpayers Union, "A Letter to the Nation's Governors:
  Ensure Transparency and Accountability by Posting Stimulus
  Expenditures Online," March 10, 2009

43. ↑ Wall Street Journal, "Stimulus Spending by State"

44. ↑ recovery.co.gov, "About Recovery.CO.gov

45. ↑ Colorado to Receive Nearly $40 million to Turn Around Its
  Persistently Lowest Achieving Schools April 12, 2010

46. ↑ $6.4 Billion Stimulus goes to Phantom Districts, Watchdog.org,
  November 17, 2009

47. ↑ Stimulus Creates Jobs in Non-Existent Congressional Districts,
  Watchdog.org, November 16, 2009

48. ↑ Colorado, Watchdog.org, November 17, 2009

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