Statehouse Democrats promised Wednesday to comb through Gov. Bill Owens’ proposed state budget to ensure it complies with the spending priorities approved by Colorado voters.
The release of Owens’ budget Tuesday sparked some concern that Owens wants to channel too much money to road projects.
The governor’s office expects the state to collect an extra $440 million this year thanks to the passage of Referendum C on Nov. 1. That ballot measure waives for five years the revenue limits imposed by the Taxpayer’s Bill of Rights.
Owens’ plan calls for pouring $296 million into road projects this fiscal year, which ends June 30.
“It’s not immediately apparent to us how the governor’s budget keeps faith with the will of the voters,” said House Speaker Andrew Romanoff, D- Denver, during a meeting with reporters.
But Democrats sidestepped a direct confrontation with the governor, who has been in South America on a privately funded trade mission.
“We want to be very careful about making commitments of dollars before we prioritize the needs,” said Senate President Joan Fitz-Gerald, D-Jefferson County.
Most of the road money in the governor’s proposed budget – $216 million – automatically flows into transportation projects because of a funding formula the state had in place before the Referendum C election.
Based on that formula, the state’s general-fund budget is capped at 6 percent growth and extra revenue then flows into road projects. In recent years, a recession and TABOR’s revenue limits prevented the state from even reaching that cap.
The governor’s budget calculates that revenues exceed the 6 percent spending cap and provide $216 million for roads this year. Owens takes road funding a step further by asking lawmakers to provide an additional $80 million.
Some critics suggested his plan violates Referendum C, which calls for dividing extra funding into one-third portions for health care, public schools, and state universities and colleges.
On Wednesday, Romanoff pointed out that the ballot measure and state law allow Referendum C money to be used for roads and for payments to pension funds for police officers and firefighters.
Staff writer Mark P. Couch can be reached at 303-820-1794 or mcouch@denverpost.com.
