After almost 6 months of preparation, the budget is finally on its way to the Governor with bipartisan support. Unlike Washington D.C., it is the duty of the legislature to pass a balanced budget. This year, we are not only doing that, we are also increasing our rainy day reserve to 6.5% which is an investment of over $130 million. Natural Disaster Recovery We made significant investments in natural disaster recovery brought forward by the Governor & the bipartisan Flood Disaster Recovery Study Committee. Economic Security As we continue down a path of economic recovery in the state, it is important to have a budget that ensures financial stability for more Colorado families. Thats why we invested in efforts to: ▪ Ensure Colorado veterans have access to job training, family support & substance abuse services * Make child care more affordable for Colorado families ▪ Boost funding to colleges and universities ▪ Encourage access to workforce development so the unemployed can find work ▪ Make funding for K-12 public schools a top priority ▪ Attract and retain businesses in the state that have a proven record of creating quality jobs ▪ Provide pro-bono services for victims of domestic violence We also worked to ensure our investments had a statewide impact. Thats why we invested in: ▪ Noxious Weed Management Program that assists private landowners to prevent, contain and eradicate noxious weeds which have created an estimated $60 million a year in losses ▪ Agriculture youth activities at the Colorado State Fair ▪ Tax base relief for the poorest counties which are typically in the rural areas of the state ▪ Better customer service at your local Department of Motor Vehicle offices to cut down wait times ▪ Make the judicial system more accessible to individuals who may not be represented by an attorney The budget also reflects efforts to reduce child abuse, homelessness and provide meaningful services to the disabled community. We included funds to ensure more women have access to family planning services & prenatal health care for pregnant women. Thank you to my constituents who had the faith in me to elect me to my position 4 years ago. It is because of you that I have had the honor of serving as the Chair of the Joint Budget Committee this year.
Posted on: Tue, 15 Apr 2014 23:29:53 +0000
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