Gov. John Hickenlooper, surrounded by lawmakers, signed the fiscal year 2015-16 budget into law. (Photo credit: John Frank, Denver Post)
Gov. John Hickenlooper on Friday signed into law for next fiscal year, but it’s the spending plan for the next year that concerns him.
The Democrat, surrounded in his office by a crowd of Republican and Democratic legislative leaders and budget writers, touted the bill as an example of how the two parties worked together to put more money into public schools, higher education and transportation.
“The fiscal year 2015-16 budget crafts a careful balance between the public needs that accompany a growing economy and the fiscal prudence ahead of looming challenges caused by our conflicting constitutional provisions,” Hickenlooper wrote in his transmittal letter.
Filled with smiles and jokes, the event overlooked a number of major battles that put a partisan tint on the budget process at times — including deadlock on that provides long-acting contraception to women and in the country illegally.
Hickenlooper also made no mention of the 15 footnotes in which he objected to lawmakers telling his agencies how to spend the money, saying in the letter that his administration will only comply “to the extent practicable and appropriate.” Unlike other budgets, however, he did not use his line-item veto to strike them.
The legislative budget writers gave Hickenlooper a good deal of what he asked for , but left out a number of big-ticket items, such as more child welfare case workers, additional money for a and a $200 million one-time boost for school districts.
“I didn’t say they were perfect,” Hickenlooper said with a laugh when asked about his rejected requests.
The spending decisions will only get tougher next year, when the governor’s budget director said three out of every four new dollars in the proposal are likely to go toward education to keep spending on track with required increases.
“It’s going to feel like a very tight budget for everybody else,” Henry Sobanet, the director of the Office of State Planning and Budgeting.
At the bill signing, Hickenlooper made no direct appeal to legislative leaders in how the state counts revenues and spends money. State lawmakers appear reticent to tackle such a complex subject in the final days of the session.
Asked by reporters about the prospects of his request, Hickenlooper said discussions are ongoing and he thinks it should be a priority. “I want them to still address it this year. They’ve still got 10 days. We’re paying these guys for the last 10 days,” he said with a smile as he looked at the lawmakers behind him.
