DENVER—Colorado lawmakers have finalized the last details of a $7.4 billion spending plan for next fiscal year and are sending the appropriately dubbed “Long Bill” to the governor.
The state House and Senate approved several amendments and companion bills to the budget Thursday to conclude one of the smoothest budget processes in years as tax collections have picked up.
Barring a veto from Gov. John Hickenlooper, lawmakers have now finished work on their biggest task.
“This is a budget we can all be very proud of,” said Republican Rep. Jon Becker, one of the House’s designated budget writers.
The budget keeps school funding per student at the same level as last year—a rarity in recent budget-slashing years. School funding is the single largest piece of the budget.
Small tweaks this week included affordable housing construction grants and services for veterans.
Lawmakers rejected proposals to divert money from a maintenance fund, and they also resisted some proposals to further drain money from the Department of Corrections. A late attempt to restore funding to cover circumcisions for Medicaid patients also failed.
Compared to recent years, though, the budget work was a breeze.
Most lawmakers were pleased with the final product.
“From the bottom of my heart, I want to say, ‘Thank you,'” Democratic Senate President Brandon Shaffer told his party’s budget writers, Sens. Mary Hodge and Pat Steadman.
Hodge responded by thanking Senate Democratic leaders “for staying out of our way,” causing some Democrats to laugh during a morning briefing.
“I absolutely cannot tell you how important that was this year, and I truly appreciated it. Thank you,” she said.
Colorado’s total budget nears $20 billion, but lawmakers control only a portion. In the $7.4 billion General Fund for the fiscal year starting in July, lawmakers decided on:
— Restoring a $100 million property tax break for homeowners 65 and older who have lived in their houses for at least 10 years. That was expected to be a flash point in the budget—with Republicans arguing for the tax cut, and Democrats saying the state couldn’t afford it. But increasing state revenues made the argument moot
— Closing a southern Colorado prison, the second prison closure in two years. Officials say closing the South Tower of Centennial Correctional Facility in Canon City will save more than $4 million year. However, they said the closure was prompted by a declining inmate population, not a need to save money.
— Adding money for K-12 education to keep per-pupil spending at $6,474, the same as this year. That’s still about $600 lower per student than it was in 2009. Since then, the enrollment has increased by nearly 28,000.
Once Hickenlooper receives the legislative budget proposal, he has 10 days to decide whether to sign it or veto it. Colorado governors have the ability to veto some parts of a budget but approve others.
Every year lawmakers make sure they have enough time remaining in the session to override a potential gubernatorial veto before leaving Denver.
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