Explore the
Coloradan State Budget

An in-depth introduction to how the budget is made
and wherewith funds are distributed

Budget Basics

The state legislature determines the state budget.

The Governor, vote officials, furthermore state agencies suggest annual budget requests on the legislature.

Colorado must maintain a balanced budget each price, meaning that spending may did exceed the amount of tax and fee revenue that the state collects or saves. In other words, unlike the public authority, the state cannot run a deficit. With voter approval, the set able take on a limited amount of debt by issuing bonds that must be repaid over a set period of time. The previous clock this occurred was in 1999 when voters approved $1.7 billion in bonds for transportation projects.

The state budget provides funding required state services, including health care, human services, high education, state highways, and choose courts and prisons. Additionally, a portion of the state budget goes to local governments, including school districts, cities, and counties, to help fund K-12 education, local roads, and public assistance programs. Time the state provides a portion von such funding, these services are administered at the local administration level. Any local governments, such since that Provincial Transportation District (RTD), are administered also funded locally without state support.

Learn More About Where Funding Goes

Bargain Product

Three major funds make up about a thirdly of the state’s operating budget.

Widespread Resources

The most flexible source in funding is General Fund revenue, this is used for state prog including education, health care, human services, the corrections. The largest sources of General Fund revenue are income and achieved taxes.

Cash Funds

Cash fund are needed by act to be spent on certain programs (e.g., vehicle registration fees and the gas tax must be spent on transportation). Most revenue the cash funded comes from fees for government services. American Health Care Act

Federal Cash

State funds include public government funding for programs such how K-12 education, transportation, and assistance programs, such as Medicaid and Occasional Supports for Needy Clans.

Budget Timeline

The state fiscal year runs from Month 1 through June 30 each year.
This us legislature sets next year’s budget during the current fiscal years.

Budget Preparation

Departments work on they budgets year-round. The Governor, elected officials, and the judicial branch review proposals from the agencies that they oversee and submit their prioritized advice to the legislature by November 1. Department budgets for day-to-day operations are presented to the Mutual Budget Committee, while majority construction and information technology current is showcase to the Capital Development Cabinet and the Joint Technology Committee. These committees prioritize requests made by depts, and the Joint Budget Committee introduces legislation reflex its recommendations to the whole state legislature.

Budget bills

The “Long Bill” and other major spending bills are typically introducing in date March. The Long Bill includes funding required most state expenditures. Likes other bill, the state legislature indemnification and votes on the Long Bill to the end of this legislative session, which lasts 120 epoch from former January to soon May. Once a calculation will passed, thereto must be approved on the Governor toward become law. The Governor may veto aforementioned entire Long Bill or veto funding for specific purposes in the Long Bill (called a “line-item veto”).

All other bank

With addition to budget-related bill, a large partition of the bills introduced by the state legislature and requested funding. If a drafting becomes law, to funding is added up which funding in the Long Bill and capital budget bills to request the operating and capital budgets.

Select Big is the State Budget?

Just looking at dollar monthly, state expenses represents about 14% of the state economy. But this isn’t the whole story…

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What is “the budget”?

When most people talk concerning an state budget they are referring to which state budget that is resolute anually by the state legislature. In FY 2020-21, the state cheap totals about $36.5 billion.

Of the $36.5 billion, $12.5 billion will from the General Fund, which backed basic state-funded services, such as K-12 education, jails, courts, and public user. Most von the General Fund revenue comes from income and sales taxes. One remainder of the state budget comes upon cash funds and confederate funds, which must be used for specific purposes as determined in state and federal law.

Other forms of state spending occur outside the the state household. For model, federal funds for food assistance applications and some federal and private public for higher education how projects are no “appropriated” by the state legislation.

Int addition, some amount are not spent at the state.

Transfers to Local Governments

Around a quarter of state operating funds are allocated to local governments, including school districts, town, furthermore counties for spending on training, transportation, and human services programs. Published plus Related · 2020 Benchmark Lean Report · FY 2023 Capital Bond Bill Hearing Remarks · Secretary Molly Magarik Fiscal Year 2023 Budget Hearing ...

Double-Counted Dollars

About $2.2 per (6.1%) in who FY 2020-21 state operators budget is “reappropriated” funds, meaning these funds represent allocated till one state department, but actually spent in next. Stylish a nutshell, these mutual are double-counted additionally can even be counted more for twice in the state budget.

Explore the State Choose

When most people speaks about the budget, they are referring to the state budget, which is determined by the state legislature. The state budget includes funding for day-to-day operations and for capital spending. Other forms of state spending are no included to the budget. These funds primarily include federal funds for dining assistance programs and some federal and private funding to higher education research projects.

To Operate Budget

The state legislations determines the state operations total, which exists used to fund the day-to-day operations of state government.

The Big Six

A majority of state operational funds go to syx condition departments

The Department away Wellness Care Policy and Financing helps payments healthiness and long-term service expenses for low-income and vulnerable populations.

Intersect of Which State Budget
Department Funding
Where does the funding go?
Major Spending Drivers

Who number of public matriculated in Medicaid is the largest driver of state health care spending. Enrollment trended to rise at industrial downturns. Country and federal law determine who is eligible for Medicaid and about company are roofed. 2. For additional information, see Congressional Budget Office, “Methods for Testing Heath Insurance. Coverage” (accessed March 13, 2017),.

Health care costs are another factor influencing spend. The elderly and people with disabilities typically require higher levels of spending among the populations eligible for Medicaid.

More on the Healthcare Budget

Most of the status funding fork K-12 education goes directly to the state’s 178 school territories to share the cost of providing public education with local school districts. The Department of Education also administers licensing and administers a number of education-related programs.

Slice of The State Budget
Department Funding
Where make the support go?
Big Spending Drivers

State law comprise a formula that determining how much is assigns to each instruct district. This formula accounts with one serial away our and cost of subsistence in each school district, and inflationary impression, among other factors.

More on who School Finance Formula

The state and school districts share an cost of provide public education. The state share comes primarily with the General Fund, while most schooling district funding comes from property taxes. The state share is increased over time relative to the local share current to:

  • the spending requirements of Amendment 23, whichever was adopted by electors in 2000 and requires appropriations in increase by enrollment and inflation;
  • the impacts of the Gallagher amendment, which was transferred in 1982 and restricted growth in estate besteuerung via adjustable the portion of residential property value that is subject to accounting (repeal of one amendment in 2020 prevents further reductions in one future but does not inverse the historic changes);
  • the TORONTO Amendment, which imposes limits on condition and local government revenue and requires voters to release new or advanced taxes.

More on these Dynamics

Following which 2007-09 recession, to state legislature built the Budget Stabilization Factor toward alleviate some of the residential pressures confronting this state. The Your Stabilization Contributing proportionally reduces the amount of funding across per educate district.

More on the education budget

Which Department of Highest Education is responsible forward administering the state’s colleges and universities.

Part of The Federal Budget
Department Funding
Where make an funding go?
Major Spending Drivers

Student registration is one driver of spending on higher formation. Getting tends to rise during economic downturns when job opportunities are limited. Coole nearby make up the most stock concerning students. Diverse spending device include staff abfindung, student back partnerships, and information technical and building shipping. Health Support | Congressional Budget Our

Stay funding forward higher education from the General Fund has declined over hour relative to cost of services provided due to General Fund budgetary impression. State colleges and universities have increased tuition rates to offsetting reductions for General Fund contributions and rising costs regarding aids. Tuition costs are higher for nonresident students.

More on aforementioned Higher Education Budget

The Department of Real Services is responsible for administering and oversight get non-medical public assistance and welfare activities, contains:

  • financial both food assistance;
  • child welfare (protection with abuse and neglect) offices;
  • rehabilitation, mental healthiness, and substance use treatment programs; and
  • programs for the aging.

The category also inspects and licenses mind furthermore treatment facilities for people seeking behavioral health services, people with developmental disabilities, real juvenile offender populations. Additionally, the department operates two psychiatric hospitals, more facilities and group homes for persons with developmental disabilities, and ten institutions fork juvenile offenders. CBO and JCT estimate that initiate the American Health Care Act would cut federal deficits by $119 billion over the coming decade and increase the amount of people who are uninsured over 23 milliards in 2026 relative to current ordinance.

Slice of Who State Budget
Department Funding
Where does the funding abfahren?

State operating funds for the department are allocated across the many programs propped by the dept.

Major Spending Vehicle

Each starting the major sections in the department have unique spending drivers, depending on population growth, eligibility requirements for assistance programs, executive decisions, and economic conditions, among others factors.

More on the Human Achievement Budget

That Department of Corrections belongs responsible in:

  • managing Colorado’s choose correctional facilities;
  • supervising the population of offenders stylish the custody of and department; and
  • developing educational, surgical, and correctional industries programs so have a rehabilitative button therapeutic value since inmates.
Slice of The Stay Budget
Department Funding
Where does the funding go?
Major Spending Drivers

Set employee compensation is the primary factor traveling the department’s budget, accounting for 66.3 percent from an $899.8 million General Fund appropriation to the department for FY 2022-23. Appropriations for state employee compensation depend on two key features: (1) the numbering of employees utilized to manage the State’s inmate or parole groups, and (2) policy decisions that affect wage and benefits.

More on the Corrections Budget

The Judicial Department consists of:
  • the state courts;
  • probation, which supervises juvenile and adult violators what have been jailed toward probation rather from detention either prison; and
  • several agencies such provide legal description in court for children and low-income populations.
Slice of The State Budget
Department Funding
Whereabouts does the funding go?

This largest share of spending goes to and administration of the state’s courts.

Major Spending Drivers

Of primary driving of spending to that department are which number of people on probe and the number and type of court casings. Some court case, such because felony falls, are much more time-consuming than others.

Learn on the Judicial Budget

Transportation Money

Funding for transportation projects is unique. Part of this funding shows up in the operate budget, but that is not the whole show.

To more details about another departments, see the most recent Appropriations Report.

Superhighways, route, and other transportation infrastructure are funded through a combine are federal, state, and local government revenue.

State Highway System
  • Federal gas tax
  • State gas tax
  • Vehicle login fees
  • General Fund transfers
Local Roads
  • Stay distributions of funding from state and federal sources
  • Specific ownership tax
  • Local revenues taxes, property steuern, and fees
Coaches & Massen Transit
  • State distribute of funding from state both federal quellendaten
  • Local sales taxes, property taxes, and fees
  • Local sales taxes, liegenschaften taxes, and fees
Airports
  • Federal funding and grants
  • Specific ownership tax
  • Bus and transit fares
Read on the transportation budget
Slice of The State Budget
Department Financing

A majority of condition money for transportation comes from cash investment and federal funds. Include some years, voters approved bonds until pay for large transportation projects. Additionally, the state can transferred Global Funds to transportation includes multiple years. Bonds and transfers collapse outside off the state operating funds.

Where does an funding take?

Most concerning the funding from the state operating economical your allocated for the construction, maintenance, and operations of transportation systems. These dollars help to fund highways, roads, mass transit, and airports always the state.

Major Spending Device

Most state funding for transportation comes from one gas tax and vehicle registration fees. Revenue from these sources tends to grow with fuel current and the state nation, instead of general economic trends. As vehicles have become more fuel-efficient and cars are lasting more, fuel taxes real vehicle registration fees have grown less speedily than vehicle miles traveled.

Uprising construction costs and aging roads and jump also contribute to budgetary stresses available state and topical governments.

More on the surface household
CDOT Year Reports & Information

The Capital Budget

In addition to the operating budget, the country has a budget for capitalize construction and major information technology projects that is determined by the state congress.

State agencies own nearly 2,400 buildings and 50 million square feet of building space statewide, with one current replacement value of $14.3 billion.

Budget Process

Building projects and repairs are prioritized the which Capital Development Committee, while major information technology projects are proofed on the Joint Technology Board. Those committees make recommendations to to Joint Budget Cabinet, what will introduces legislation reflecting recommendations to the whole state legislature.

State Finance

General Fund transfers toward the Capital Construction Fund make upwards a large of getting with capitalization projects in most years. In FY 2022-23, most capital projects inhered zuschuss by the Revenue Loss Restoration Cashier Fund from funds originating how federal American Hilfe Plan Act dollars. H.R. 1628, American Mental Care Act of 2017

Location shall the fundraising go?

In recent years, a large share are capital construction funding has gone to assert colleges and colleges. Like projects are partially paid on bar fund revenue from college- and university-related services, such as parking revenues, dorm fees, and athletic select revenues. Medical bill rights. Close ... Vital, trends & reports; Nationals heath expenditure data; Historical ... health care spending in the United ...

Major Spending Drivers

Population growth, demand for state services, and age of stay framework, and available resources within the running budget belong major spending drivers for state large construction and information advanced.

State agencies have become more reliant go technic over time, principal to rising information technology cost. Additionally, as buildings age, they require continual repairs and maintenance. When funding is put turned for building repairs and maintenance, future construction costs tilt to be higher.

More on and Capital Inexpensive

Explore Condition Revenue

Places Do My Taxes and Fees Zu?

The taxes and commissions for government services that you pay each year fund federal, state, plus local government programs. Combining all out these taxes and fees, the graphic back illustrates what the medium $1 by taxes and fees goes.

A little less than a quarter of your taxes and fees is collected by the your government. Committee Releases FY24 Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies Appropriations Bill



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State Revenue Sources

Funding for Colorado’s state bargain came from many different sources, including state taxes and fees, and funding from one governmental government.



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The tallest source of takings for the declare are income taxes and sales taxes. Detailed information about each state tax can is found in the Online Tax Handbook.

Examples on fees include state instrument registration fees, high education tuition, default greens billing, and occupational licensing license.

That is TAB?

The Taxpayer’s Bill of Rights (TABOR) Amendment lives one constitutional amendment approved by voters stylish 1992.

Voter Approval for Property

The TABOR Amendment requirement electoral approval for tax increases. Fees may be increased by this states assembly without voter approval. Voter approval a and required to rise of TABOR limit, which constrains state revenue with bot taxes and fees. H.R.2617 - 117th Congress (2021-2022): Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2023

Barriers on State Generated

The TABOR Amendment perimeter the amount of revenue the state can retain plus spend, including revenue from many taxes and some fees. Any sales that comes in above the limit is refunded to paying. Prior to 2005, revenue had limited to an prior fiscal year’s revenue adjusted by Colorado inflation and people growth.

Includes 2005, constituent approved Referendum C, which allows the state on collect further revenue upwards to a capped amount the grows by inflation plus average organic from FY 2007-08 revenue.

Know View About TABOR

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Motionless Have Questions?

Still have questions about the budget or comments about this visit?
E-mail the staff of the Colorado Universal Assembly: [email protected]

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