Spring Break
'Ugly list' would reduce Colorado college funding
Associated Press
Issue date: 3/25/09 Section: News
DENVER (AP) - Colorado lawmakers have drawn up an "ugly list" of potential steps to balance their recession-plagued budget, including funding cuts and tuition increases for higher education and furloughs for state employees.
The Associated Press obtained the list Tuesday. The state is looking for $156 million to cut from this year's budget, which ends June 30, and $786 million from next year's, which starts July 1.
The "ugly list" could be used in either budget year as the state copes with a sharp decline in tax revenues because of the deep nationwide recession.
Possible cuts for the next budget year include $103 million from reducing funding and raising tuition for state colleges and universities and $1.8 million for a one-day furlough.
Other possibilities for next year include using $10 million in federal highway funds for the driver's license program and saving $91 million by suspending homestead exemptions on property taxes owed by the elderly and by disabled veterans.
The recommendations for the current budget year are less drastic. With only about 90 days left in the fiscal year, budget staffers have mostly recommended taking more money from cash funds designated for specific programs to balance this year's budget.
This year's options list does include cutting $8 million from senior services, ending the Read-to-Achieve program and ending mental health care for juvenile and adult offenders.
The Joint Budget Committee hasn't decided which options they'll back yet.
The list incorporates an additional $14 million from higher education, including $9 million the University of Colorado now gets from the state's tobacco lawsuit settlement and $5.9 million in need-based aid to graduate students.
The list isn't expected to cover the full $786 million shortfall in the next budget year. That raises the possibility of even more drastic measures, such as eliminating the state subsidy given to all Colorado college students to help them pay their tuition.
The Associated Press obtained the list Tuesday. The state is looking for $156 million to cut from this year's budget, which ends June 30, and $786 million from next year's, which starts July 1.
The "ugly list" could be used in either budget year as the state copes with a sharp decline in tax revenues because of the deep nationwide recession.
Possible cuts for the next budget year include $103 million from reducing funding and raising tuition for state colleges and universities and $1.8 million for a one-day furlough.
Other possibilities for next year include using $10 million in federal highway funds for the driver's license program and saving $91 million by suspending homestead exemptions on property taxes owed by the elderly and by disabled veterans.
The recommendations for the current budget year are less drastic. With only about 90 days left in the fiscal year, budget staffers have mostly recommended taking more money from cash funds designated for specific programs to balance this year's budget.
This year's options list does include cutting $8 million from senior services, ending the Read-to-Achieve program and ending mental health care for juvenile and adult offenders.
The Joint Budget Committee hasn't decided which options they'll back yet.
The list incorporates an additional $14 million from higher education, including $9 million the University of Colorado now gets from the state's tobacco lawsuit settlement and $5.9 million in need-based aid to graduate students.
The list isn't expected to cover the full $786 million shortfall in the next budget year. That raises the possibility of even more drastic measures, such as eliminating the state subsidy given to all Colorado college students to help them pay their tuition.
Be the first to comment on this story