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Governor's budget emphasizes 'rainy day' savings

By Ed Sealover, Rocky Mountain News

Published November 2, 2008 at 11:01 a.m.

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Gov. Bill Ritter is releasing his proposal for a $19.2 billion spending plan for next year today, proposing to hold spending below the maximum allowable level for the first time in his two-year-old administration.

Ritter has said that the state budget reflects the values of Colorado. If that's the case, his top value this year is caution.

He pitched setting aside $77 million for critical services if the economy dips and tax revenues come in lower than expected, in his 2009-10 fiscal-year budget. He said that if the money remains unused come June, the majority of it should start a permanent rainy-day fund.

Despite the tough economic outlook, the Democratic governor did propose spending increases in a number of areas, including education, prison-building and developmental-disability services. He asked the Joint Budget Committee to dedicate $5 million to job creation, $11.4 million to a new Child Welfare Training Academy and $200,000 to begin planning for a residential-care center for military combat veterans.

But he also put forth the idea of cutting transportation funding $428 million — roughly one-third of its current budget — even as a Ritter-appointed panel has called for a $1.5 billion spending increase in that area. Federal transportation money is expected to be down $96 million this year and state-dedicated road revenues down $332 million, and Ritter did not request any way to replace those funds.

"This is a budget that tightens state government's belt, focuses on critical services and reflects the opening of a new state prison," Ritter said in a news release. "The budget also makes strategic investments in job creation, job training and education so that our economy is well-positioned for a strong rebound when the downturn becomes an upturn."

SealoverE@RockyMountainNews.com or 303-954-5438

Comments

  • November 2, 2008

    11:25 a.m.

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    ghoax writes:

    as the economy and our personal budgets tighten so too should the governments. Ritter misses the boat on many issues, however, I must say that it is nice to see a move towards fiscal responsibility, hope that continues.

    Since it looks like we'll be stuck with this lopsided state government, It would also be to ALL of our benefit if Ritter and the liberal regime in power, were to act responsibly to quit giving special interests, (environmentalist obstructionists, homosexual activists, and so on) a free pass to legislate their agenda. We're tired of it and want our state government to start using common sense.

  • November 2, 2008

    11:26 a.m.

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    daRock writes:

    Ritter and 'savings' in the same article? That is funny.

  • November 2, 2008

    12:05 p.m.

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    ColoNative writes:

    If there is enough to establish a savings, then it is your money they are saving away. They will collect interest and invest and earn more on money that they have over-taxed you to get. So, not only are they stealing, but now flaunting by saying that they have more than they need but refuse to give it back. What a bunch of arrogant criminals!

  • November 2, 2008

    12:08 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    FCZ writes:

    Look at Japan’s Nikkei Index.

    It was almost 40,000 in 1990. Nearly 20 years later, it has never been materially over 20,000 again, and now is under 10,000.

    We are headed for - at best - this scenario if we increase taxes and invent lots of new government programs. At worst we are headed for a full-on economic Depression.

  • November 2, 2008

    12:32 p.m.

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    ManginoTorreta writes:

    "If there is enough to establish a savings, then it is your money they are saving away. They will collect interest and invest and earn more on money that they have over-taxed you to get."

    In this case, though, is this really such a bad idea? Individually, we would be expected to responsibly put money away for "rainy days"--why not expect the same thing of our government? I don't have a problem with the government putting away money for the future if that money will be used for things like infrastructure. The key is watchfullness and making sure that they money, when used, is being put towards necessities rather than pointless or ineffective government social programs.

    It's been pointed out countless times on these boards that the government should not conduct itself financially in a manner that would be irresponsible for its own citizens to likewise perform. This is a proposal for the state government to do something fiscally responsible for once (putting away savings for hard times), so I hope Ritter encourages this on an individual level as well.

  • November 2, 2008

    1:02 p.m.

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    shesgotthejack writes:

    He's still "Tax" Ritter. Maybe you should even save more Mr. Ritter and cut your own salary. He is by far the worst governor this state has had in a long time!! Can't wait till he is out of office and the citizens of this great state can elect a responsible, sensible conservative.

  • November 2, 2008

    2:20 p.m.

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    FCZ writes:

    In another clip from the same January 2008 interview with the San Francisco Chronicle in which Barack Obama promised to bankrupt anyone foolish enough to build coal-burning power plants, he also made an interesting admission about his entire energy plan.

    Obama told the editors that his policies would make energy prices “skyrocket”

    http://hotair.com/archives/2008/11/02...

  • November 2, 2008

    3:30 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    windskull writes:

    Republican "privatization" ie deregulation turned prisons into a business why then is Gov Ritter pushing for state budget dollars to fund a corporate entity AND these rainy day monies the Governor speaks of are mandatory entitlement benefits that belong to rural disabled and elderly citizens! Read CRS VOLUME 3 TITLE 26 SOCIAL SERVICES CODE ARTICLE 4 COLORADO MEDICAL ASSISTANCE ACT PART 2 MANDATORY PROVISIONS 26-4-201

  • November 2, 2008

    4:33 p.m.

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    Vampyre writes:

    when does the state government cut their salaries and start to show some type of work for their outlandish salaries? Too bad they don't pay according to what they are worth.

  • November 2, 2008

    4:47 p.m.

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    sundaychild67 writes:

    Vampyre, please shut up about state employee salaries! I work for the State, and the position I have would pay at least $8,000 more a year if I went to work in the private sector. I worked in the private sector for 22 years before going to work for state government, and although I have better job security now, I had much better benefits in the private sector. As any state employee about their benefits and you'll see just how "outlandish" our salaries REALLY are! So please stop spouting off about things that you don't know!

  • November 2, 2008

    5:02 p.m.

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    windskull writes:

    Shaggy you sound like my screwball sister-in-law who has somewhere along the lines blurred into her misperceived concept of reality the script from the old cold war epic starring Charles Bronson titled Telefon only instead of Russian spies amongst us awaiting a phone call it`s muslims behind every rock & tree whose life calling is to kill all christians it`s not the least bit funny that not a damn one was home, had their phones off or were in a dropped call zone for EVERY terrorist event dating back to Pan Am Flight 103 it`s pathetic to think that anyone could be so naive to believe such cr apola in this day and age!

  • November 2, 2008

    5:34 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    xeeian writes:

    FCZ writes:
    "Obama told the editors that his policies would make energy prices “skyrocket”"

    Just like our energy 'experts' GW Bush and Cheney have already done!!!

    This was Bush and Cheney's big area of expertize.

    I'd expect similar ineptitude from McCain/Palin.

  • November 2, 2008

    5:39 p.m.

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    jbowen43 writes:

    It makes me smile to read all the whining by the right wing losers. You're breaking my heart please wait while I get out the violin.

  • November 2, 2008

    8:12 p.m.

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    Cwillyrun1 writes:

    Wow, what a bad plan from what the article had. Our roads aren't in good shape, yet Ritter proposes cutting a third of the spending on transportation out of the budget?

  • November 2, 2008

    9:24 p.m.

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    spyder writes:

    But, if you get all the peons off the roads with higher prices that only the royalty can afford, you won't need as much maintenance. Then, they can run their little trains just where they have always wanted to...directly to the high end areas and not have to 'waste' money running lines where the majority of the people need them. Ever wonder why the FIRST line was not run down Colfax? But we do have a real pretty line running down to Highlands Ranch. That gets all that heavy traffic off the roads for Broncos, Rockies and Nuggets games, not to mention all the traffic congestion going to the Fine Arts Center. Bottom line is...WE PAY....they play.

  • November 3, 2008

    6:49 a.m.

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    roger44 writes:

    Governor is not much of a leader, won't listen to the experts, he talks of rainy day fund when we've been in an economic storm for several months.