Colorado’s budget has reach a breaking point. Growth in spending on K-12 schools, Medicaid, and corrections is essentially on auto-pilot. Revenues have not kept up, leaving higher education and other critical state programs and functions as the only areas where legislators are legally allowed to cut to balance the budget. On the current pace, legislators will have not choice but to violate the state constitution by either cutting K-12 education or passing a budget that is not balanced — unless voters pass a tax increase or some other measure that increases revenue. It appears that Colorado Democrats don’t have the stomach for asking voters for tax increase, and instead are intent on violating Amendment 23.
In the short term, Mark supports asking voters for a temporary income tax increase to prevent any further cuts to education.
Mark believes the answer to the state’s long term budget mess must include two components:
1) A state savings account – Funds placed in this account must be restricted to use only to preserve programs during a recession, or to shift state spending on K-12 Education out of the general fund.
2) More revenue for the general fund – Colorado state government cannot get the job done of investing in our future without additional revenue. In particular, Mark supports significant increases in state investments in our university and community college systems. Colorado ranks 11th in the nation in median income, yet funds higher education per student at one of the lowest rates in the country.
To discuss Colorado’s budget in more detail, give Mark a call at 720-840-8492 or send him an email at Mark@VoteMark2010.com. Mark would love to talk with you personally about it.
