Colorado Budget Cuts: Higher Education To Bear Brunt Of Cuts, But Not Until 2010-11

DENVER — Colorado Gov. Bill Ritter laid out his plan to cut another $286 million from the state budget on Wednesday, including reductions in Medicaid provider rates and $145 million from higher education. The cuts come on top of the $1.8 billion budget shortfall the state has already covered over the past year.

The cuts to higher education will be covered by federal funds this year, but the governor's office warned those funds will not be available next year and colleges and universities may be hard hit if new money is not found by then.

It was the second time this year Ritter has been forced to cut this year's budget, which ends in June, and the governor's office warned more cuts may lie ahead.

"We're managing the state's economy in the worst fiscal crisis since the Great Depression, and this isn't a one-time hiccup or temporary blip. This is a massive correction. It is a new economic reality for all of us," he told lawmakers on the Joint Budget Committee, which sets the state's spending priorities.

On Tuesday, the governor ordered state employees to take four more unpaid furlough days, on top of four furlough days that workers already are taking, in an effort to save money.

Ritter says the eight closure days will save about $27.2 million in the 2009-10 fiscal year that ends June 30.

The governor said he is working on a plan for next year that would require all state employees to take cuts after state workers complained that nearly half the state workers were protected because their jobs were deemed essential, but he refused to release details.

On Nov. 2 and Nov. 6, the governor will present his budget for the next fiscal year, and even deeper cuts are expected.

Todd Saliman, the governor's budget director, said the cuts are needed because of higher-than-expected Medicaid caseload growth and previous cuts that Ritter backed away from, including $4.5 million he tried to cut for aid to the needy and disabled and $14 million of $19 million that the governor expected to cut by giving early parole to convicted felons.

The early release program was cut back after authorities said they inadvertently released a sex offender from prison under a moneysaving early release initiative and imposed stricter guidelines.

Ritter, a former Denver district attorney, said that no sex offenders, kidnappers or killers would be released under the program, but Ritter has no control over which prisoners are released, which is under the control of the parole board.

The governor also cut $3.1 million from Medicaid providers, reducing rates by 1 percent, bringing this year's total cuts to the program to 4.5 percent.

Ritter said he doesn't believe those cuts are onerous and he believes those providers will continue to provide services at a time when demand for health care is soaring.

Comments

[Rayme]

He's not the only governor doing this.

[ArchAngel]

Colorado's conservatives have been working for decades to take Colorado's prime state public colleges and universities into private hands for no cost.

All of this is being done under the guise of the state cannot afford to have them.

[stargazer13]

well considering were third world when it come,s to education

Here,s a plan you might want to consider

cut your wage and the governors wage the state rep,s wage the state rep,s aid,s wage

Oh there are many other places to cut . education should be last on the list if you ask me !!!

[jay1975]

We have a Democrat majority here and they bow down to the union thugs and drive away jobs. Intel and HP left because of union pressure and people here are bickering and blaming the Repubs. Both parties are screwing us in Colorado and all yellow dogs and dyed in the wools want to do is blame the other side. How many jobs has Ritter killed? He would rather protect varmit prarie dogs that carry the frickin' plague over putting Coloradoan to work. Ritter will most likely go down, but the alternative is no better.

[NoahVail]

News flash. HP and Intel moved because they could not find an educated work force. Didja ever wonder why silicon valley is in Southern California? Because of the universities there, you fool.

[jay1975]

Ah, another misinformed fool. Colorado HP and Intel jobs went to New Mexico while California is shedding manufacturing jobs to overseas locations at an unprecedented rate. But sure, it is lack of education that is driving jobs away, not costly labor, union interference and punishing tax laws. Keep that head up your fourth point of contact (look it up) and smile.

[Nukualofa]

I have an idea that all republicans will endorse. Let’s stop that socialized program of plowing the highways and roads when we get snow like we are having now. Let everyone be on their own. The state could save millions of dollars by scraping the snow plows.

[NoahVail]

I think I hear banjo music playing in the background.

[jay1975]

You are a testament to the yellow dogs. Be proud.

[MyrtleJune]

In Red states, such as Arizona, Education is always the FIRST to go. It is no surprise that the same is true in Colorado. What keeps people voting Republicn? Stupidity. What are Republican legislatures ALWAYS against? EDUCATION!!!!!

Arizona would not have any universities were it not for Janet and even Brewer saved SOME of the budget from the "keep 'um stupid" crew.

[debbielynnepaint]

Whine, Whine, Whine. I live in Colorado and although the economy is slower, most states would give their eye teeth to have our economy.

[SMAckley]

So why are you cutting education if your economy is so enviable?

[wsmcke]

I go to Metro State College and cuts are already hurting us. We almost did not get the funds needed for new science building. Some of our courses have been scaled back because of the lack of funds. It costs a lot to buy the needed books, housing, etc that is needed to go to school. If we don't prop up education what will the US have to compete with in this new global economy?.

[escribacat]

Maybe one good thing will come out of this recession -- maybe we'll go permanently onto a 35 hour work week instead of 40. Be more civilized like the Europeans.

[MyrtleJune]

I'm for that!

[Rayme]

Only if we don't have to take a pay cut. Personally, I'd rather work 40 hours a week and have 30 days paid vacation like the Europeans.

[fleaba]

This is amazing considering Ritter's campaign promise of providing higher education to all high school grads within the state. Cut the football money and start taxing pot. If we start growing it in state and dispensing it in state.

[Spiritof1982]

I will never vote for anyone who even suggests privatizing CU.

[Eye2ndThat]

As a Higher Ed State Employee I have a real problem with the Gov's "solution" to the budget deficit! I work at a Community College and our enrollment is up over 28% this Fall Semester! So many people have been laid off and are seeking a different career field that we have been scrambling to find extra classroom space. Most of our new enrollees are eligible for Financial Aid because they have lost their jobs and are desperate to find something that they can find employment in a totally new field. If as, the Gov says, that Higher Ed needs to be cut how are we to keep the doors open for the current students as well as the future students (read--new layoffs)?

In addition, apparently there is a proposal among University Presidents to privatize Universities and Colleges to exempt them from State rules and reporting so that they can then charge as much as they want for tuition! The in-state tuition would be so exorbitant that our local high school graduates would be better off leaving the state for a lower tuition rate! What happens to those then College graduates? Well, they won't be back here in Colorado as tax-paying citizens--they've already experienced life in another state.

We want to keep people here who will be contributing to the State tax system.

[Nicon]

The money is right there, all we have to do is pick it up. Billions laying in Colorado streets, being flushed away down our gutters. The is only one industry trying to explode in Colorado, its Medical Marijuana. Yet were fighting it tooth and nail. The state needs this money, and Colorado's sick people need safe, locally owned and operated places to get their medicine. Its time to get the pot out of our National parks, off the street corners and in to taxed & regulated stores. Colorado Can't wait. Our only other option is to keep cutting services that are drastically underfunded as is.

[sposton]

Who needs Republicans when you have Democrats like Ritter and Obama? ;-)

[UsofA]

Glib and wrong. If you can't discern a difference between Ritter and Obama, you're in intellectual company with Teabags Across America.

[sposton]

I suppose you've learned your techniques from Republicans. ;-)

[swift goat pet for truth]

It got to be this bad BECAUSE of GOPers.

"Deficits don't matter"

[sposton]

Yes, Republicans have ruined this country with their BS but what are Democrats like Ritter and Obama doing differently in the economic sphere than a typical Republican administration would have done?

[escribacat]

The ha te crimes law that was signed today by the president would never have happened under a republican administration. That is one example of the considerable differences. Do you think republicans would do budget cuts any differently?

[sposton]

At the time of the biggest economic crisis since Great Depression that is the best we can point out that distinguishes Obama and Republicans. I am talking about economic matters and there just isn't that much a difference between them. That is the sad truth we are unwilling to admit to ourselves. I voted for Obama and I think he is an intelligent, eloquent and charming fellow but his economic team is driving us toward an economic meltdown by policies which are essentially indistinguishable from what a Republican administration would have done. And you can say the same for Ritter.

[Nosybear]

We truly have a wonderful state. It's just a damned shame so many Republicans are out to ruin it by cutting off infrastructure and our investments in our future. Oh, well, I guess we can continue to import people to run our high-tech workforce. Hasn't that become the American way now that we've become the nation of "we can't" We can't afford higher education, some billionaire might have to pay tax and it might not trickle down. So we import talent. One day that talent will realize it can stay at home, and then welcome to third world America. But a consolation, it will be cheap for Indians and Chinese to retire here.

[escribacat]

I work in high tech and there are no jobs in my field right now. I can't imagine they are importing anybody at this point. Are you referring to something specific that you know about?

[roudy]

A great place to start cutting the higher education wastful spending would be to cut all the football programs at every college and university immediately. That would save millions every year, at a minimum.

[fleaba]

I couldn't agree more.

[escribacat]

Excellent idea. Cut that before cutting academics.

[GEM-592]

Yeah that'll happen

[liquidone]

Say goodbye Ritter! Colorado is going back red.

[UsofA]

Yes, they're going back to the very people who got them into this mess.

[Nosybear]

You're making the assumption that with Ritter, we were not red? Blame it on Republicans, guys, they're the ones who think we can run a state with no income. Now that they have us to the point where they really can drown government in a bathtub, how do you like it when your kids have to go out of state because Colorado's in-state tuition now resembles that of a far more prestigious private university?

[escribacat]

Why would anyone rush back to those who caused all the problems in the first place?