DENVER—The Colorado House approved the state budget without debate on Friday and also passed a bill declaring a fiscal emergency, allowing the state to tap tobacco funds.
The measures included a bipartisan package of bills to slice about $300 million from the budget to avoid major cuts to higher education.
The bills now go to the Senate, which is expected to send them to a conference committee to work out differences.
A two-thirds vote is required to declare a fiscal emergency so lawmakers can tap $30 million from tobacco tax revenues.
The budget includes a request that Gov. Bill Ritter force state employees to take up to eight furlough days in the fiscal year beginning July 1, cut provider rates for private prisons and medical providers, delay a major water project and raise tobacco taxes.
Ritter is not bound by the furlough suggestion, but he would have to find other places to cut his budget if he doesn’t go along.
Lawmakers said strong measures were needed to cope with a projected $1 billion revenue shortfall in the 2009-2010 budget.
