FY 2015-16 Budget In Brief
Forecast June 2015
Focus Colorado presents forecasts for the economy and state government revenue through FY 2016-17. Implications of the forecast for the state's General Fund budget and spending limit are described in the report's highlights and executive summary sections. The report is based on current law,...
Colorado's Constitutional Spending Limit (2015)
In 1992, voters approved an amendment to the Colorado Constitution — Article X, Section 20 — known as the Taxpayer's Bill of Rights (TABOR). TABOR limits annual growth in state spending.
FY2015-16 Budget Package and Long Bill Narrative
Marijuana TABOR Refund (2015)
Colorado's Taxpayer's Bill of Rights (TABOR) requires voter approval of any new taxes. Prior to voter approval, it also requires that voters receive estimates of state spending without new taxes and the new tax revenue. Proposition AA, which authorized the 10 percent sales tax and the 15 percent...
Forecast March 2015
Focus Colorado presents forecasts for the economy and state government revenue through FY 2016-17. Implications of the forecast for the state's General Fund budget and spending limit are described in the report's highlights and executive summary sections. The report is based on current law,...
CY 2015 FY 2014-15 Supplemental Package Narrative
Colorado's K-12 Education Funding Rankings (2015)
K-12 funding rankings are of perpetual interest to legislators, educators, parents, and the general public because they provide a measure to evaluate where Colorado stands nationally on education funding. However, rankings can also result in confusion because of data differences and metrics used...
Income Tax Checkoffs (2015)
Colorado's individual income tax form allows a taxpayer to make a voluntary contribution to any one of 15 funds, each of which benefits a program or charitable organization (organization). This issue brief provides information on the income tax "checkoff" program and the selection of...
FY 2015-16 Staff Budget Briefing Summary
2014 Use of Marijuana Sales Tax Revenues Interim Study Committee Final Report
Pursuant to Interim Committee Letter 2014-6. The purpose of this committee is to evaluate and make recommendations regarding appropriate uses of sales tax revenue generated by recreational marijuana sales in Colorado.
Individual Income Tax (2014)
The individual income tax is the largest source of General Fund revenue, accounting for 60 percent of General Fund collections in FY 2013-14. This issue brief provides a brief history of Colorado income tax rates, discusses the general process for determining Colorado’s individual income tax,...
High Performance Certification Program (2014)
New construction and substantial renovation of academic buildings and facilities constructed or maintained with state General Fund moneys (hereafter referred to as "state facilities") are required to comply with the High Performance Certification Program (HPCP). The program requires the...
Transportation Planning and Funding in Colorado
This issue brief examines the entities and revenue sources used to administer and finance Colorado's transportation system.
Disaster Mitigation and Relief Tax Breaks (2014)
In response to natural disasters that have hit Colorado in recent years, the General Assembly has enacted a number of tax breaks aimed at mitigating or relieving the impact of these disasters on taxpayers. Tax breaks can take a number of different forms, such as an income tax deduction,...
Statutory Transfer to Fund Transportation and Capital Construction (2014)
Senate Bill (SB) 09-228, adopted by the General Assembly during the 2009 legislative session, creates a five-year block of statutory transfers from the General Fund to finance transportation and capital construction projects. This issue brief discusses the state law that specifies the amounts of...
State Taxes on Marijuana (2014)
In 2000, voters approved Amendment 20, allowing the possession and use of medical marijuana in Colorado. In 2012, voters approved Amendment 64, legalizing marijuana for use by adults aged 21 and older. Sales of retail marijuana for adult use began on January 1, 2014.
Distribution of FY 2013-14 General Fund Surplus
The FY 2013-14 General Fund surplus is estimated at $235.8 million.1 State law requires this surplus to be distributed in the amounts and order shown in Table 1.2 Additionally, the transfer to the Capital Construction Fund is allocated by state law in the order and amounts shown in Table 2.3 Up...
Business Personal Property Tax
This memorandum provides background information on the structure of the business personal property tax and the estimated fiscal impact of eliminating the tax. The first section of the memorandum describes the business personal property tax base, authorized exemptions, filing procedures, and the...
State and Local Government as a Proportion of the State Economy (2014)
This issue brief provides information on the relative size of state and local governments, compared with the total state economy. Government expenditures are represented as a percentage of the state's gross domestic product (GDP). In Colorado, stategovernmentexpendituresarebelowthenational...
2013 Colorado Cost of Living Study (2014)
2013 Colorado Cost of Living Report - Expenditure Totals
Summary of Tax and Finance Legislation (2014)
The attached document provides a summary of major legislation considered by the General Assembly pertaining to taxes and fiscal policy.