FREE
July 2, 2020
DENVER, COLORADO
A publication of
VOLUME 93 | ISSUE 34
Colorado spared more budget cuts for now But an additional $1 billion in reductions looms on the horizon next year BY JOHN FRANK THE COLORADO SUN
Its current form came about in 2006, she said, when the library changed the program to include a variety of activities to engage youths, as well as reading. This year, the Denver Public Library’s Summer of Adventure program continues with its “reading, making, exploring” concept, and a big part of that is choice, Duarte said. “Choice is important because all kids can participate and build on various skills,” she said. In addition, providing options “offers the type of learning they want to do in the summer.” Some youths love reading, and others prefer to build or create something, Duarte said. “They still have to use literary skills in some way,” she said, “it’s just integrated differently.” For example, Duarte said, if a youth is cooking, they will need to read a recipe. Or, if they’re building a robot, they have to read the instructions on how to assemble it.
No further budget cuts are immediately necessary as an economic forecast from the Polis administration shows a series of tax changes approved by Colorado lawmakers generated enough revenue to preserve the state’s slim budget cushion. Gov. Jared Polis’ office says a new economic forecast shows that tax revenue will allow the state to carry a reserve slightly above the $300 million required for next fiscal year’s $30.3 billion state budget, but warned that Colorado’s finances remain tenuous. If tax revenue drops by half, state law forces the governor to slash spending, which historically takes the form of state employee furloughs or pay cuts. “The minimal reserve requires very careful management,” said Lauren Larson, the governor’s budget director. “A small reduction in our forecast could require midyear (budget cuts). We will be watching that closely.” The new numbers provided a glimmer of optimism in an otherwise dismal budget year in which lawmakers spent $1.4 billion in discretionary dollars less than the prior year. The true budget cuts for the 2020-21 fiscal year that begins July 1 were closer to $3 billion when factors such as inflation and growth in demand for services were factored into the equation. The state’s economy is beginning to rebound, but the depth of the current recession means there is more financial hardship for the state ahead. Many of the dollars Colorado lawmakers used to balance the budget this session were one-time tools, and new estimates from legislative economists suggest they will need to find about $1 billion in cuts or new revenue to maintain spending next year. “We are not out of the woods yet,” Sen. Dominick Moreno, a Democratic budget writer from Commerce City, said. “COVID-19 remains a real threat to our communities and the economic impacts of the shutdown will have dire consequences for years to come.” Looking ahead to the fiscal year that starts July 1, 2021, the Polis administration is asking state agencies to cut their budgets for the new fiscal year by 10% — on top of the 10% or more they cut for the coming year’s budget. The administration is hoping for more federal dollars to blunt the impact. “It’s drastic and dire,” Larson said of the additional anticipated cuts. “And I hope that the federal stimulus funds come through and we don’t need to actually end up proposing … such a large reduction. But because we don’t know where that’s going to end up, we need to have departments be planning accordingly.” This year, lawmakers managed to spare more cuts with legislation at the end of the session to repeal a handful of tax breaks approved in the federal stimulus
SEE LIBRARY, P7
SEE BUDGET, P7
Denver Public Library’s 2020 Summer of Adventure takes place until Aug. 8, with registration closing on July 31. The program includes a variety of learning-based activities that allows youths to read, make and explore. COURTESY OF DENVER PUBLIC LIBRARY
Reading, making, exploring with Denver Public Library Youths invited to participate in Summer of Adventure through Aug. 8 BY CHRISTY STEADMAN CSTEADMAN@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM
Youths enjoy talking with library staff and their peers about the books they’re reading or what they’re making and creating for the Summer of Adventure program. This year, because of COVID-19 and social distancing, those conversations may not take place in a library setting, said Michelle Jeske, executive director of the Denver Public Library, but she still expects them to happen. No matter if they’re occur-
ring with a neighbor, parent/ caregiver or sibling, it’s priceless when youths talk with others about their passions, Jeske said. “Kids, like all people, have a variety of interests,” Jeske said. “The books and activities (part of the Summer of Adventure program) will still provide the opportunity to strike up those conversations.” Denver Public Library has been putting on some sort of summer reading program for at least 50 years, said Yanira Duarte, program coordinator for Summer of Adventure.
INSIDE: VOICES: PAGE 8 | LIFE: PAGE 10
PERIODICAL