CO Senate Republicans Budget principles

Senate Republicans believe the following eight budget principles provide a sound basis for a fiscally responsible FY 2011-12 state budget.

* Maintains a reserve of at least 4 percent as recommended by the Governor;
• Budgets to the most conservative General Fund revenue estimate available for FY 2011-12;
• Avoids suspending the $65 million vendor fee that has already cost thousands of jobs;
• Makes structural, long term changes to entitlements, which are increasingly crowding out needed funding for core functions of government such as K-12, higher education, and transportation;
• Consolidates prisons and increase utilization of cheaper private corrections facilities;
• Increases the amount that government workers pay for their retirement as recommended by the Governor;
• Avoids the use of one-time fund sources to prop up General Fund spending that will create a shortfall next year; and
• Is amenable to and supportive of additional structural changes and cuts in spending which will be offered by our caucus in floor amendments.