Colorado Fiscal Policy

For many Coloradans, access to health coverage and care is linked to the state's fiscal condition. Annually, health care expenditures, primarily for Medicaid, consume almost 20% of Colorado's general fund budget. According to a study by the University of Denver, at current rates, state health care spending will rise nearly 200% by 2025.

As health costs have risen, the state's ability to pay for programs and services has diminished. Recessionary pressures have reduced state revenues, and conflicting constitutional provisions have limited state's ability to respond to immediate and emerging health care needs.

Colorado's Budget: In Plain Talk

After three years of substantial state budget cuts, Coloradans are asking questions about state finances. This video from The Bell Policy Center
provides a tutorial on the state's budget basics in "plain talk."