House, Senate Agree on Budget: House GOP Highlights Victories

DENVER—After months of work, the House and Senate came together on a bicameral and bipartisan budget agreement today.

The agreement that balances the state’s budget includes an emergency cash reserve of four percent of General Fund appropriations as requested by Gov. John Hickenlooper and Republicans. 

“House Republicans fought hard for a budget that is honest and responsible, and I am proud to say that our efforts paid off,” said Speaker of the House Frank McNulty, R-Highlands Ranch.  “We look forward to working with the Senate, the governor and our House Democrat colleagues to implement the many pieces of a budget that recognizes the fact that government must make the same tough choices that families and small businesses are making across the state.”

The agreement includes a reduction in cuts to K-12 education funding from the governor’s proposed $332 million to $250 million.

“It was important that we reduce cuts to K-12 education,” said State Rep. Cheri Gerou, R-Evergreen, vice-chair of the Joint Budget Committee.  “The agreement also includes Republican measures to help small businesses by restoring part of the suspended reimbursement for vendors who collect sales tax and repealing last year’s software tax.”  

Rural Colorado also will benefit from the agreement, as Joint Budget Committee member State Rep. Jon Becker, R-Fort Morgan, highlighted.  He said, “Republicans fought hard to eliminate last year’s agriculture tax and to protect millions of dollars in funding for water projects across the state.” 

The measure is expected to be introduced in the Senate later this afternoon.

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