Tag: joint budget committee
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Pinnacol separation bill delayed as Colorado budget remains in flux due to $1.5B deficit
A bill that would allow Pinnacol Assurance to formally sever its remaining ties with the state appears unlikely to emerge anytime soon, as House leaders juggle a massive budget shortfall, unresolved negotiations with key stakeholders, and growing doubts about whether the insurer’s proposed $400 million payment could be counted on to help balance next year’s…
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Colorado legislators consider $500 million in general fund cuts amid $1.5 billion deficit
The legislature’s Joint Budget Committee is working through a list Wednesday of about 150 suggestions to cut as much as $1.5 billion in general fund dollars out of next year’s budget. The largest on the list prepared by JBC staff is $198 million in cuts to the funding for the annual senior and disabled veterans…
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Wildlife agency asks for $450,000 to bring more wolves to Colorado
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The panel of legislators charged with crafting the budget on Monday rejected a proposal that proponents said would increase transparency around how much Colorado Parks and Wildlife spends to bring additional wolves into the state. At the same time, the wildlife agency is seeking $450,000 in general funds for fiscal year 2026–27 — twice what…
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Costs explode for Colorado program covering pregnant women and children living in the U.S. illegally
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A state program providing health care to pregnant women and children living in the country illegally is costing far more than lawmakers expected, with expenses nearly tripling in just a year and threatening to squeeze Colorado’s budget amid a nearly $1 billion shortfall. The program, launched in 2024, now enrolls more than 30,000 people and…
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Colorado policymakers scramble with prisons on track to exceed capacity
Colorado’s prison system is on track to exceed capacity within the next year, driven by a sharp slowdown in parole releases, staffing shortages and an aging inmate population — all as lawmakers grapple with an $800 million general fund shortfall that limits options for expanding beds or spending in alternative programs. If projections hold, the…
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Colorado budget writers put Medicaid caregiver pay cuts on hold
The Colorado General Assembly’s budget decision-makers have put proposed pay cuts on hold for people who care for a family member with a disability who receives Medicaid. The Joint Budget Committee made the decision after hours of testimony from family caregivers and several advocates. The Department of Health Care Policy and Financing has been struggling…
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Colorado lawmakers hear from chief justice about security needs, new judges
Chief Justice Monica M. Márquez asked members of the legislature’s Joint Budget Committee on Tuesday to stay the course and fund the 10 new trial judgeships that Colorado lawmakers approved last year, and also explained her vision for enhancing judicial branch security. Responding to questions generated by committee members after a hearing last month on…
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No TABOR refunds this year, as Colorado Gov. Polis warns of tight fiscal outlook
Gov. Jared Polis on Friday submitted revised budget requests for the next two fiscal years, calling for new public safety spending, changes to Medicaid growth, and renewed efforts to privatize Pinnacol Assurance. Notably, the governor said Colorado residents won’t get refunds from the Taxpayer’s Bill of Rights (TABOR). “We are focused on protecting the issues…
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Colorado legislators review wolf program as funding challenges persist
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Wolves took center stage during a Tuesday review by Colorado legislators of the budget proposal from the Department of Natural Resources, which includes the division that manages the reintroduction program. The Joint Budget Committee reviewed the budget proposal for 2026-27 from the department, with an eye toward potential cuts. The annual budget briefing is an…
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Colorado lawmakers sign off on $10 million for food assistance as SNAP benefits are poised to run out
A panel of Colorado legislators on Thursday approved a $10 million cash infusion into food assistance for residents who are expected to lose food stamp benefits starting on Saturday amid the federal government shutdown. But state policymakers and budget staffers said they fear that the plan is riddled with “holes,” describing it as akin to…