A record number of lawmakers voted for the 2012-13 Colorado state budget this year — a $19 billion spending plan that even deeply conservative Republican Sen. Kevin Lundberg supported.
Lundberg, who represents Berthoud, said it was the first time he had voted for a budget in the 10 years he has served in the legislature.
“I looked at this one long and hard,” he told fellow senators Thursday as they took a final vote. “Today, my vote will be ‘yes.’ “
Though Republicans are in the minority in the Senate, Lund berg said the budget for the 2012-13 fiscal year, which begins in July, was more satisfying to him than ones when Republicans had been in the majority.
“What I see as the key element is we’re living within our means,” he said.
Republicans said the practice in prior years of draining cash funds — which are usually supported by fees on businesses — to bolster the state’s general fund had nearly ended. Meanwhile, the budget also sends severance-tax money, funded by oil and gas revenues, back to local communities where the drilling takes place and where the money can be used for infrastructure projects.
In previous years, the legislature — including many Republicans — has voted to sweep severance-tax funds to help balance the budget.
And Republicans pointed to a 1 percent cut in departmental-staffing costs, though there are many exceptions to the cut.
There’s even some government shrinkage: The state is closing Colorado State Penitentiary II in Cañon City, saving $13.5 million a year.
But the biggest help to the budget came in March, when economic forecasters said there was $199.8 million left for the 2012-13 budget year, even after taking into account $98.6 million needed to fully restore a property-tax break for seniors. With the tax break no longer an issue, and with some restoration of cuts to education, the budget battles became much more about items around the margins.
The Democratic-led Senate passed the budget on a 30-5 vote Thursday, with all five “no” votes coming from Republicans. The real surprise was in votes from Lundberg and Senate Minority Leader Bill Cadman, R-Colorado Springs, who said it was only the third time he had voted for a budget.
Another marvel came in the Republican-controlled House last week, when the budget passed on a 64-1 vote. Rep. Chris Holbert, R-Parker, cast the lone dissenting vote.
Capitol watchers said they couldn’t remember a House vote with so many members in favor. A look at House votes over the past 10 years shows the next-closest vote was in 2004, when 60 lawmakers supported the budget
Last year’s budget got 80 of 100 total votes in the legislature; this year, that increased to 94.
The budget, with Senate amendments, must head back to the House, which will almost certainly request it be sent to conference committee.
