Impact and Outreach
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Financing Colorado's Future
The Center's two-part report on the fiscal sustainability of the state government's General Fund has generated nearly 100 articles, TV and radio reports and other mentions in the media. CCEF staff have given or are scheduled to give nearly 100 presentations and interviews on the project, which was recognized with the "Most Distinguished Research" award by the national Governmental Research Association.
Media Highlights
CU Connections, Jan. 12, 2012: "Report: Without structural changes, state's revenue forecast is bleak"
"A study by the University of Denver presented Wednesday to the CU Board of Regents contends the revenue structure in Colorado is broken. Phyllis Resnick, Center for Colorado's Economic Future at DU, said that even if Colorado were not entrenched in its worst recession in 70 years, the future of the state's revenue stream and the funding of programs such as higher education would still look bleak."
The Denver Post, Sept. 4, 2011: "Editorial: It's time to talk taxes, Colorado"
"A sobering study from economists at the University of Denver shows it's high time for Colorado to start a conversation about what we expect from government and how much it will cost — and about asking voters for the taxes needed to pay for it."
Boulder Daily Camera, Sept. 1, 2011: "Real solutions for Colorado's future"
"In a dozen years, Colorado will only collect enough sales, income and other taxes to pay for the three largest programs in the General Fund: public K-12 schools, health care and prisons. Think about that: Fund three core services, and there is nothing for the university system. Nothing for child protective services. Nothing for transportation. Nothing for capital construction or maintenance. Projected spending for all programs -- some of them, like Medicaid and K-12 spending, already mandated by law -- will exceed projected revenues by nearly $3.1 billion in 2023. The next year, that will widen to $3.5 billion."
The Huffington Post, Sept. 1, 2011: "University of Denver Researchers Warn of Impending Colorado State Budget Crisis"
"A non-partisan study conducted by DU's Center for Colorado's Economic Future paints a dire picture of the state's long-term budget. The report, released Wednesday, recommends lawmakers consider tax increases to augment state spending as budget cuts alone will not be enough. A thousand-foot perspective of the problem: increasingly volatile inputs to the state's General Fund are not contributing fast enough to match the state's obligations. Health care, prisons, and education funding currently comprise the state's biggest financial commitments."
The Denver Post, Mar. 1, 2011: "Editorial: Fiscal overhaul still imperative"
"With or without a jobs boom, it's clear Colorado can't grow its way out of its budget woes. While growth is the most important ingredient in the budget's recovery, the state will struggle with a structural imbalance even once healthy growth resumes."
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Recent Presentations and Briefings
The Colorado Trust, Mar. 19, 2012
El Pomar Foundation, Feb. 28, 2012
University of Colorado Faculty Council, Feb. 16, 2012
Colorado Association of School Executives, Feb. 1, 2012
Colorado School of Mines Board, Jan. 27, 2012
League of Women Voters, Jan. 23, 2012
University of Colorado Board of Regents, Jan. 11, 2012
Colorado Concern, Dec. 16, 2011
Great Outdoors Colorado Board of Directors, Dec. 13, 2011
Colorado Association of School Boards, Dec. 11, 2011
Colorado Realtors, Nov. 3, 2011
Colorado Women's Collaborative, Nov. 17, 2011
Gov. John Hickenlooper and staff, Oct. 31, 2011
Colorado Fiscal Managers Association, Oct. 28, 2011
Colorado Senior Lobby, Oct. 24, 2011
Colorado School Finance Project, Oct. 21, 2011
