Gov. Bill Ritter today introduced a plan to close the state's looming $384 million budget shortfall, including digging out from a nearly a quarter-billion dollar hole in the budget year ending Tuesday. At the core of Ritter's proposal is a directive for departments to produce cuts totaling 10 percent of their general fund appropriations. Proposals are due to the state budget office July 20, but will not be considered by the Joint Budget Committee until September.
RitterFTS Staff Photo
In a letter to executive directors (PDF), state budget director Todd Saliman said cuts should be "ongoing into the future" and "focus on eliminating the least efficient and effective programs, rather than continuing to shave resources from existing programs."
Statehouse Republicans agree on the need to trim spending, but questioned why Ritter waited until the close of the 2009 fiscal year to announce deeper cuts.
"I think it's about time," said Rep. Frank McNulty, R-Highlands Ranch. "It's a move the Republicans put forward two years ago when we started this downward spiral. It was rejected by the Governor then along with leading Democrats in the House and Senate.
Ritter defended his handling of the budget. "We've been thoughtful and responsible in our approach [by] squeezing out efficiencies, investing in better ways to do business, and protecting the delivery of vital services," he said.
"These cuts would get us very close to the $384 million shortfall," Ritter said, adding state workers may see additional furlough days beyond the 4 already included in the 2010 budget.
In finding reductions in the coming year's budget during the legislative session, lawmakers favored furloughs over reducing the size of the state workforce. Each furlough day nets the state approximately $2 million in payroll savings; Ritter now says reductions in staffing may be a part of the upcoming round of cuts.
Rep. Kent Lambert, R-Colorado Springs, questioned whether the state could have avoided its current position by being more conservative in its revenue estimates.
"The Governor's [budget office] has consistently been low on their finance estimates - their budget forecasts - over the last year. They always seem to be caught by surprise on issues we've already told them about," Lambert said.