State Senate Bill 228 would repeal the spending limit that is
protected by the Taxpayers Bill of Rights, and puts a 6 percent
growth cap on the state General Fund Budget, according to a news
release from Sen. Greg Brophy of Wray.
The bill claims that it will “increase the flexibility” of the
state budget. However, it met an outstanding amount of opposition
from Brophy on March 2 during second reading of SB 228, the release
says.
Brophy represents state Senate District 1, which includes
Cheyenne, Elbert, Kiowa, Kit Carson, Lincoln, Logan, Morgan,
Phillips, Prowers, Sedgwick, Washington and Yuma counties.
“This is the most reckless fiscal bill ever introduced in the
history of Colorado,” Brophy said. “This sets Colorado up for the
kind of fiscal train wreck that California just had. We cannot
allow this.”
According to the Colorado General Assembly’s Web site, the bill
eliminates the limit on the growth of total general fund
appropriations, the appropriations limit. If the appropriations
limit was used as a trigger for some other event, the bill
establishes a new trigger that is based on the amount actually
appropriated from the general fund, or in the case of certain tax
credits, that is 6 percent over the general fund appropriations
from the prior year.
Brophy said the spending limit has “kept us” from building state
entitlement programs and the expectations around them to high
levels in good years, “allowing us” to avoid even tougher times,
during economic downturns.
“The current law, which is in place, essentially forces us to
live within our means, a legislative equivalent to the personal
responsibility we all were taught about from our parents,” Brophy
said.
The bill comes on the heels of a $1.6 billion tax increase, and
would cause an estimated $340 million in loss for transportation
funding, according to Brophy’s release.
To read SB 228, visit the Colorado General Assembly’s Web site
at www.leg.state.co.us.
“This is the most reckless fiscal bill ever introduced in the
history of Colorado”
Senitor, Greg Brophy
