From the Denver Post today, an article regarding the tough budget challenges awaiting the Legislature, and the unfortunate impact this will have on K-12 schools and higher education across the state, including Greeley and Evans. The first few paragraphs are posted here; the entire article is on the
Post's website.
Tense legislative session ahead with revenues "hitting bottom"
By Tim Hoover, The Denver PostThe angry phone calls and letters have been coming into Capitol offices for months.
From teachers and school executives who don't want lawmakers to cut K-12 education. From county commissioners angry about cuts to local aid to counties. From senior citizens furious about the prospect of a property-tax break for the elderly being eliminated for a second year in a row.
The messages come from college presidents appalled about cuts to higher education and from business groups complaining about the potential loss of tax breaks and incentives.
For state lawmakers, closing budget shortfalls totaling more than $1 billion in the 2010 session, which starts Wednesday, will be an exercise in disappointing many constituencies.
"This year is hard because I think this is permanent, in the sense that I don't see things recovering soon," said Rep. Jack Pommer, D-Boulder, chairman of the Joint Budget Committee. "We're hitting bottom, and we're cutting things that are absolutely affecting people's lives. It's not like we can say next year is going to get better, because it isn't."