On Friday, Governor Jared Polis presented his FY 2022- 2023 budget to the Joint Budget Committee (JBC) of the General Assembly, the first step in the budget approval process. Governor Polis was joined by Director of the Office of State Planning and Budgeting Lauren Larson.
The budget addresses many of the issues plaguing Colorado counties across the state, from historic investment in workforce housing and jobs, to funding for behavioral and mental health services, and supporting grants for main streets across the state.
“We have a once-in-a-generation opportunity to make Colorado more affordable and get to the root of the most challenging issues of today and tomorrow,” said Governor Polis.
“This fiscally responsible budget has record reserve levels of unspent funds and doubles down on my commitment to saving Coloradans money, fighting pandemic-induced inflation by putting money back into paychecks, supporting small businesses, and enhancing our Colorado way of life,” he explained. “The commonsense proposals outlined in my budget are things Coloradans will be able to see, feel, and find helpful in their everyday lives. This budget proposal will help move our state forward and continue to build a Colorado for all,” concluded Polis.
The Governor’s budget proposal focuses on four key elements to strengthen Colorado’s economy and move our state forward:
Fiscal Responsibility with record reserves
Historic Investments in Education and Workforce
Putting Money Back in Coloradans Paychecks and Supporting Colorado Businesses
Healthy and Safe Communities
Governor Polis thanked the members of the committee including Sen. Dominic Moreno for his leadership as committee chair and congratulated Rep. Julie McCluskie on her election to the committee chair. Gov. Polis also thanked the staff at the Office of State Planning and Budgeting for their work on this budget proposal.
The Governor’s budget delivers results for Coloradans by putting more money back into their paychecks, helping fight off pandemic-induced inflation.
Historic Investments in Education and Workforce
- Proposes one of the biggest total and per-pupil investment that the state has made in its K-12 system
- Reduces the Budget Stabilization Factor by $150 million to 4.7 percent, the lowest it has been since its peak in FY 2012-13
- Proposes to prepay an additional $300 million to the State Education Fund in order to maintain this new, higher level of investment in Colorado’s K-12 schools
- Adds financial aid and investments to reduce the cost of higher education
- Invests $30 million in one time funds for the renovation of up to 15 state facilities to include child care centers across educational institutions or work sites so that Colorado leads by example
- Adds $21 million to help workers find good-paying jobs
Putting Money Back in Coloradans Paychecks and Supporting Colorado Businesses
- $104 million in Fee Relief for Individuals and Businesses, including FAMLI Paid Family and Medical Leave premium relief, Healthcare Professionals fee relief, and partnering with Secretary of State Jenna Griswold to make it Free to Start a Business
- $600 million in unemployment insurance premium relief for Relief from Pandemic-Related Unemployment Insurance charges and support for Family leave to save employers and workers money on payroll taxes
- $51 million to help businesses find workers and helping workers find good-paying jobs through child care, short-term credentials and apprenticeships
Saving People Money on Health and Behavioral Care
- Transforming home and community-based services by raising caregiving workforce wages to $15/hour to ensure Medicaid access to services
- $24 million for innovation to reward high-quality care that is cost-effective (HCPF and DOI alternative payment models)
- $11 million for e-Health Innovations to enable critical data and technology for rural healthcare providers
- Leverages $550 million in Investments to really address the behavioral and mental health crisis the state is facing. Colorado is looking to partner with local governments to make that investment even more than $550 million to address substance abuse, depression, and reduce the suicide rate.
Healthy and Safe Communities, Public Safety
- $16.6 million in public safety workforce: Investments include funding to support access to mental health services, help train and recruit law enforcement officers to support diversity of the workforce reflecting the communities they serve.
- $35.9 million in community public safety investments include funding to make our streets safer through lighting improvements; increased community watch; and proven neighborhood models, create a blueprint that connects schools, public safety, public health and other agencies into a single response; and provide grant resources for school safety enhancements, such as expansion of mental health resources and infrastructure improvements to keep students and staff safe.
- $6.0 million in domestic violence initiatives: Funding will be available for gender-based violence services, including anti-domestic violence and anti-sexual assault services, to mitigate the compounded safety concerns faced by interpersonal violence survivors during the COVID-19 pandemic.
- $47.9 million in behavioral health investments, including proven strategies that both reduce crime and increase access to treatment for Coloradans in crisis, funding to implement criminal justice early-intervention programs to prevent at-risk individuals from becoming involved, or further involved, in the criminal justice system, adding additional bed capacity to the Colorado Mental Health Institute at Fort Logan, and bolstering the behavioral health workforce by offsetting loans, providing scholarships, and leveraging bonus payments in underserved communities.
- $7.1 million in recidivism reduction initiatives: Investments focus on improving youth outcomes after release, fostering humane and purpose-driven facilities, and enhancing formerly incarcerated individuals’ ability to re-enter the workforce and make an associated positive impact in their community.
- $6.8 million to improve the capabilities of the state forensics lab and increase the ability of the Colorado Bureau of Investigations to support local law enforcement
Homelessness Response Solutions
- $100 million that will be leveraged with local and external resources to at least $200 million for a competitive matching grant program designed for local communities to reduce homelessness investments in two key supportive residential recovery campuses, one in Denver ($50 million) and one at our state-owned Ridge View site ($45 million) leveraged dollar for dollar with local matching funds from regional communities; and
- $5 million investment to help inform intervention strategies and create a lasting structure for efficient coordination of resources.
Investing in Main Streets Colorado
One-time state General Fund investment of $40 million dedicated funds for designing and building safer streets. CDOT’s Main Streets program has revitalized the use of urban roadway space for active transportation, economic activity, community, and recreation in communities across the state.
Air Quality
- Investing $424 million of one-time General Fund in a broad set of targeted initiatives.
- $255 million for rapidly greening Colorado’s transportation system, including $150 million to position Colorado as a national leader in the electrification of its school bus fleet;
- $50 million for decarbonization of the industrial and aviation sector;
- $4.5 million for the environmental efficiency of the state’s cannabis industry
- $52 million over two years to drastically increase resources available to the Colorado Air Pollution Control Division to monitor and regulate emissions, support changing over to cleaner technology, and more thoroughly engage with local communities.
- The budget also includes a capital request for Colorado’s state-owned buildings that prioritizes $225.9 million in projects that mitigate environmental harm and resource waste.
Housing That’s Affordable
- $100 million for investments in strong communities, to provide infrastructure grants for local infill infrastructure needs to help support and catalyze affordable housing development
- $25 million for financing energy improvements in affordable housing
- $25 million for housing innovation incentives to support and grow businesses in prefabricated housing
- $25 million for Colorado Housing and Finance Authority’s Middle Income Access Program
Read the Governor’s letter and the entire proposal here.
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