Colorado lawmakers got a dose of “tough love” Tuesday with a gloomy budget forecast that shows the state will have just enough money to cover the bills over the next five years.
Mike Mauer, the legislature’s economist, explained that Referendum C will let the state keep an extra $3.96 billion over the next five years, but the rising costs of government programs will eat up most of that money.
“It will literally be preventing you from making cuts and not much above that,” Mauer said during a special presession meeting with lawmakers.
The meeting – called by Democratic House Speaker Andrew Romanoff – was designed to dampen expectations that the state has a bottomless pot of money because voters approved Referendum C.
Romanoff wanted to deliver a “tough-love message” to lawmakers before the five-month legislative session opens today.
Mauer described his assignment as writing an easy-to-read primer on an impossible-to-understand subject.
“I was asked to put together ‘Budget for Dummies,”‘ quipped Mauer, looking around at the dozens assembled at the meeting. “I understand now because I see that the lobbyists are here.”
In addition to the how-to-build-a-budget session, top Democrats called for twice-a-month meetings with Gov. Bill Owens.
“We recognize that the political strains of an election year will test us all,” wrote Romanoff and Senate President Joan Fitz-Gerald in a letter to the governor. “But we know that you share our desire to put statesmanship above partisanship.”
Dan Hopkins, Owens’ spokesman, said the governor will meet with lawmakers more often than twice a month.
Not every meeting Tuesday was touchy- feely.
Senate Minority Leader Andy McElhany, R-Colorado Springs, told lobbyists that Owens has told lawmakers he would veto the entire budget if necessary.
The governor has warned lawmakers not to “plan any trips (after the scheduled end of the session this spring, because they) may be called right back to a special session to handle something like a vetoed budget,” McElhany said.
Hopkins said Owens often makes such comments before a session, though he has never vetoed an entire budget.
In Mauer’s budget briefing, he told lawmakers to consider boosting the reserve fund for economic emergencies. He said other states set aside as much as 10 percent of the total budget; Colorado keeps 4 percent.
Some proposals already have popped up.
Republican State Treasurer Mark Hillman, Democratic Sen. Paula Sandoval of Denver and Republican Rep. Cory Gardner of Yuma are proposing that the state stash away Referendum C money that exceeds the previously projected $3.7 billion the state expected to collect.
Rep. Bernie Buescher, D-Grand Junction, is offering a separate plan that would boost state reserves to 9 percent by drawing on funding from the general fund and severance-tax revenues.
Staff writer Jim Hughes contributed to this report.
Staff writer Mark P. Couch can be reached at 303-820-1794 or mcouch@denverpost.com.
