Be safe. Stay Strong.
PAGE 6 | THE VILLAGER • May 7, 2020
home because some mountain communities are not quite ready for the impact of visitors to their local stores and gas stations. He even mentioned that “SlingTV” is (temporarily) offering free premium content for Coloradans. In response to a question from Bloomberg News, Polis said that the state’s budget director, Lauren Larson, is looking at the possibility of utilizing the Federal Reserve Bank’s “new lending facility for states and local governments” to see if it could be beneficial to – Gov. Jared Polis Colorado taxpayers. A question about whether Polis was considerArapahoe, or Adams County, with that we can sustain for a peing raising new revenue given his who remained shut down through riod of time in May and June and announced budget cuts drew this midnight on May 8, per Denver July.” The bottom line is that we response from the governor: “This Mayor Michael Hancock and need to expect that social distancwould obviously be the wrong Tri-County Health Department. ing and masks may not be going time to raise taxes, in a recesIn his May 1 press consion. We have been focused ference, Polis explained that on extending tax deadlines.” the philosophy behind saferThe subject of keeping at-home is to function “in a purchases of personal prosustainable way,” realizing tective equipment secret that the coronavirus will not until they are on the ground disappear any time in the in Colorado was raised by a foreseeable future. Speciflocal TV news reporter. Polis ically, his goal is to avoid confirmed that that is indeed “the spikes (in hospitalizathe state’s policy, explaintions) that led to the emering that it is done to ensure gency situation of almost that the federal government two months ago here and doesn’t cut off Colorado’s nationally and internationalpurchases “at the manuly.” He emphasized several facturer, during the supply times during the 35-minute Governor Polis is pictured with Villager chain, or during customs,” File photo event that the state is contin- reporter Freda Miklin last year. resulting in “items that we’re away until there is a reliable vacuously analyzing data from other buying being taken out from uncine available against this virus. states and other countries about der us,” putting Coloradans “at a During the press conference, how opening up various types of disadvantage by allowing our own businesses and other organizations Polis talked about the steps the federal government or other states is impacting the number of new state Department of Labor has to purchase things that Colorado coronavirus cases and hospitaliza- taken to lessen the time it takes to had already purchased.” He contions in other jurisdictions so as to approve unemployment applicatinued, “We certainly see the fedgain more information to inform tions, pointing out that they have eral government as a partner (on Colorado’s policies on how to added 80 agents and 70 temporary personal protective equipment), proceed. workers to handle the huge influx we see other states with a good In a later interview, he again of requests they continue to recooperative arrangement, but at explained why he is opening up ceive. He also reminded listeners that same time, this is also a globour state: “What the data and the that they can get directed to emer- al free-for-all….It puts Colorado science show us in the projections gency services through the “Dial at additional risk if we were to talk done by CU and others is that 211” hotline. about what was in the pipeline and what matters a lot more than the The governor recommendwhat was being purchased before date that the Stay-At-Home order ed that Coloradans continue to it got here.” ends is what behavior it’s replaced recreate within ten miles of their Fmiklin.villager@gmail.com
Gov. Polis explains where we are now and why BY FREDA MIKLIN GOVERNMENTAL REPORTER
Colorado Governor Jared Polis opens every press conference, as he did on May 1, by acknowledging the bottom-line impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on our state. As of May 3 (most current data obtained by The Villager), Colorado Department of Health and Environmental Policy reported that there have been 16,635 cases and 842 deaths in our state due to the coronavirus so far. Polis issued an executive order on May 1 cutting $229 million from the state’s budget over 16 departments. Largest hit was Medicaid, with a $183 million cut. Polis explained in the press conference that day that the reason Medicaid is being cut is that many people are not using available services for other health issues during the coronavirus pandemic, hence these previously budgeted funds are not needed. On May 1, the governor’s safer-at-home order allowed personal
We certainly see the federal government as a partner (on personal protective equipment), we see other states with a good cooperative arrangement, but at that same time, this is also a global free-for-all…. It puts Colorado at additional risk if we were to talk about what was in the pipeline and what was being purchased before it got here.
service businesses, such as salons, dog groomers, and personal trainers, along with stores to reopen, subject to following social distance and hygiene guidelines. Beginning May 4, offices were permitted to open under the same conditions, with a maximum of 50 percent of their regular staff levels and strong encouragement for any and all workers who are able to perform their jobs remotely to continue to do so, particularly employees in the more vulnerable category (over 65 and those with certain medical conditions). These rules did not apply to Denver,
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Paying for infrastructure Continued from page 5
taxes. We’ve asked the voters to fix our roads with an increase in taxes. And we asked voters to let us keep the money we’ve already paid in taxes to address our roads.” All ballot proposals failed – the Legislature should have gotten the message: “Find the money to fix our roads!” So where is that money? In the current FY 2019-20 Operating Budget of $32.5 billion (we believe it will be subject to significant downward revision-but we will know more about revisions after the May 12th Revenue Forecast) is allocated as follows: Human Services and Health Care – 40.1%; Higher Education and K-12 Education – 34%; Corrections and Judicial – 5.6%; Transportation – 6.5%; Other – 13.8%. The only category that must be funded by constitutional mandate is K-12 Education. All other categories have flexibility. Transportation’s share of that fiscal-year budget (once again, subject to downward revision), is $2.1 billion. Somewhat more than half of that figure is funded by Colorado’s excise tax on gasoline and diesel. With the Governor’s current war on fossil fuels, excise
taxes are in a downward spiral. Most of the balance of Colorado’s transportation dollars is comprised of federal funds. To put that in context, consider the following from the Colorado Department of Transportation’s 2040 Statewide Transportation Plan: “CDOT requires approximately $46 billion (in 2016 dollars) in funding over the next 25 years. $20.7 billion in needs have been identified in the next 10 years to reach the plan’s goals and objectives. Projected revenues will only cover approximately 46 percent of the projected needs for the next 25 years, with projected needs exceeding revenues by $24.9 billion. For the next 10 years alone the funding gap is $8.77 billion (roughly $877 million per year). CDOT needs a long-term, sustainable source of revenue.” That is a lot of money, but it costs over a million dollars a mile to repair most highways! Sure, we are throwing a lot of numbers around but anyone who commutes in the Denver metropolitan area, the Front Range, or anywhere across Colorado for that matter, knows how those numbers translate to lost time, growing frustra-
tion, and ever-increasing financial cost. And while you may not need another number, since 2010 the state has been growing by 80,000 people per year, all trying to use the same roads and bridges you are. What do we do? The questions are many, but the answers are few. The political philosophy of the Democrat majority in the legislature and our Democrat Governor seems to be “Fund everything else other than Transportation!” I believe the answer is as straight forward as “1, 2, 3”. 1) Meet our constitutional obligation to fund K-12 Education. 2) Quit creating additional new social service programs that require tax-payer funding. 3) Direct any new funding towards helping all of Colorado’s transportation needs. I am asking you to help us come to a workable solution to this vexing problem. If you have ideas, please write to me at rchampionhd38@gmail.com or call me at 303-973-0303 as I would like to discuss possible solutions with you. I consider it an honor and privilege to be your State Representative. Richard Champion Representative House District 38
