(DENVER) - Facing a fiscal crisis and a huge revenue shortfall, legislative leaders today advanced a budget that is “balanced and bi-partisan.” Senate Bill 259, the budget or “long bill,” passed on an initial voice vote and will have a recorded vote tomorrow.
The fiscal year 2009-2010 budget faces a deep shortfall, approximately $1 billion dollars below original projections. In the past few months, the budget committee, legislative leaders and the governor’s office have strategically trimmed programs across the board while working to protect our schools, colleges, public safety, and to put Colorado on the road to economic recovery.
Today, legislators agreed on a final round of budget balancing measures, trimming nearly $300 million more.
Speaker Carroll said, “Today we passed a balanced and bi-partisan budget that protects opportunity in Colorado. Working together, Democrats and Republicans crafted a sensible budget that protects our schools, keeps the doors to Colorado’s colleges open, and will help put Colorado on the road to economic recovery.”
Minority Leader May said, “While we might not agree on how every dollar is saved or spent, we do agree that with the future of the state on the line, it is time to put aside politics and make good policy. This is a balanced budget that tightens our belt and wisely trims the fat off our expenditures.”
Majority Leader Paul Weissmann said, “As a body, both Democratic and Republican, we’ve done what was needed to come up with a balanced budget. And we’ve done the best we can to minimize the effect of these cuts on struggling families. Successfully working together, we’re advancing a good, compassionate, and balanced budget.”
Jack Pommer (D-Boulder), Vice Chair of the Joint Budget Committee (JBC) said, “These were tough decisions for everyone. I know our Republican colleagues voted for some items that they didn’t like – as did we – but the result is a bipartisan, balanced budget.”
JBC member Mark Ferrandino (D-Denver) said, “We made deep cuts, and unfortunately, it will impact a wide range of government services. But as we take these actions, we’ll never take our eyes off our greater purpose: expanding the circle of opportunity for every Coloradan. We have cut back, but we refuse to balance the budget on the backs of children, the disabled, the elderly, students and working families.”
JBC member Don Marostica (R-Loveland) said, “The ongoing economic crisis means that the state continues to cope with falling revenues. Like everyone else, the economy has forced us to tighten our belts. We’ve had to make tough choices and tough cuts. But in the end, we balanced the budget by working and governing together.”
-- Posted by Staff