Colorado lawmakers only have $23 million for new programs but agree to tackle measures totaling $2 billion
Proposals for the 2024 session are on their way to the Colorado General Assembly, including measures that would cost the state nearly $2 billion.
A recent forecast said lawmakers only have about $23 million to spend for new programs.
The Legislative Council, the bipartisan body that works on bills before the House and the Senate chambers formally consider them, advanced 54 bills sent by a dozen interim and statutory committees.
The largest cost comes from a packet of five bills from the Child Welfare System Interim Study Committee. The bills, if approved, would spend more than $1.8 billion over the next three years, including $64 million in the 2024-25 budget year.
Does the state have the money for those measures?
That's not a question the Legislative Council addressed during its Nov. 15 review of those measures.
But the most recent revenue forecast presented to the Joint Budget Committee in September already offered a hint.
The forecast showed the state would have about $1.2 billion more in general fund to spend in the 2024-25 budget year. But take out inflationary increases, expected requirements for the state reserve, hikes in provider rates (primarily in health care and corrections), increases tied to current law appropriations, employee compensation hikes and controlled maintenance, and what’s left for new programs is about $23 million.
Notably, the big-ticket items advanced to the legislature on Nov. 15 aren’t on the agenda for Gov. Jared Polis, whose Nov. 1 budget submission to the Joint Budget Committee placed a higher priority on paying off the debt to K-12 schools, public safety, renewable energy, and strengthening workforce development.