Gov. Bill Ritter’s proposed budget shows a steep decline in transportation funding, mainly a result of decreased federal funding and state transportation revenues. The budget shows transportation spending would plunge $428.8 million, or nearly 33 percent.
Ritter said the budget shows that lawmakers must address the need for a major transportation-funding package. Though the governor appointed a special commission to look at transportation needs, there was little support last session for any of the panel’s ideas, and Ritter has extended the life of the commission.
Republicans and Democrats last session could not agree on how to create a rainy-day fund.
Ritter’s plan calls for putting $77 million in reserve until June 30, 2010. If it has not been used by then, the first $40 million would go toward a permanent rainy-day fund, growing to more than $200 million over five years. Interest from the fund would go toward repairs at colleges, prisons and other state institutions.
The next $30 million would go to fix and replace deteriorating bridges, while the final $7 million would go toward economic-development programs.
The governor’s budget also proposes:
• An $825.5 million increase for the Department of Corrections, including $20.7 million to open the Colorado State Penitentiary II in Fremont County and to expand the Denver Reception and Diagnostic Center correctional facility.
• Increasing funding to public schools by $221 million, including $60 million to expand full-day kindergarten by 8,755 students.
• An additional $40 million for colleges and universities and a continuation of tuition caps that would limit tuition increases for most students to no more than 5 percent.
• A $10.6 million crime-prevention and recidivism-reduction package that Ritter says he thinks will save $380 million over five years by reducing the need for more prison space.
• A $5 million economic-stimulus package that Ritter wants to use for renewable-energy jobs development.
