Sentinel Lakewood
November 14, 2013
A Colorado Community Media Publication
ourlakewoodnews.com
Jefferson County, Colorado • Volume 90, Issue 14
Hickenlooper unveils $24 billion budget Health care, education could see increases By Vic Vela
vvela@ourcoloradonews.com Those dreaded DMV wait times and skyrocketing college costs could see some alleviation, under Gov. John Hickenlooper’s proposed budget for next year. The governor detailed a $24 billion budget — one that he called “equal parts of optimism and prudence” — during a presentation to a state legislative committee on Nov. 7. As presented, the 2014-2015 budget includes increases in total funds and reserves compared to this year, an accomplishment that Hickenlooper attributes to a state economy that has now seen four consecutive years of growth since emerging from a recession. “We have now exceeded pre-Great Re-
cession peak employment levels and there are only a few numbers of states that have done that,” Hickenlooper told the Legislature’s Joint Budget Committee. “This recovery puts C o l o r a d o ’s economy literally among Report the very best in the United States.” Hickenlooper singled out four “high priority” areas that will receive special focus as part of next year’s budget: “Education, customer service, health care and public safety.” The proposed budget would cap higher education tuition growth at 6 percent. That would halt a five-year trend that has seen an average tuition rate grow 10 percent, according to Henry Sobanet, the governor’s budget director. The governor also proposes adding
Capitol
more than $40 million for college financial aid, which he called a “historic increase” for higher education funding. “This budget request would allow more families to send kinds to college,” Hickenlooper told the committee. The budget also proposes a $223 perpupil increase for K-12 students next year. However, the governor acknowledged that the increase falls short of complying with Amendment 23 — the 2000 measure that reversed a trend where education funding was falling behind the rate of inflation. The governor’s budget does not include education dollars that would have come had Amendment 66 past last week. The tax hike for education funding measure was soundly defeated on Nov. 5. Hickenlooper also seeks to revamp the Division of Motor Vehicles, though increased staffing and updated computer systems, which are a part of “long-overdue steps to modernize DMV.” The governor said that the increased funding would significantly reduce wait times for cus-
Newkirk
Master Sergeant (Retired) Troy R. Inabinet spoke at the Federal Center’s Veterans Day event on Nov. 5 about his experience in the military and transitioning in to veteran life.
FOR THEIR SERVICE Federal Center honors veterans
Agencies thank those who serve in military, and government agencies By Clarke Reader
creader@ourcoloradonews.com The U.S. General Services Administration and Department of Interior honored Veterans Day on Nov. 5 at the Federal Center with a celebration of the sacrifices veterans have made, as well as honoring those who still serve the country by working for the government. In attendance at the event was Congressman Ed Perlmutter, GSA Regional Commissioner for Federal Acquisition Service, Tim Horne, and Deputy Director of Human Resource Directorate, LC Williams. “To all veterans, I want to thank you for your service. As a congressman in your area, since I didn’t serve, my job is to be a voice for veterans,” Perlmutter told the crowd. “I also want to thank those of you who have remained in the Service continues on Page 16
tomers who seek services from the oftenlampooned state division. “One of the places where Coloradans most frequently interact with government and become aggravated is the Department of Motor Vehicles,” Hickenlooper said. Various health care departments, including Human Services and Public Health and Environment, will see a combined $618 million increase through next year’s proposed budget. And developmentally disabled persons are expected to experience shorter waiting lists for services that include assisted housing, through an additional $22 million in proposed funding. The Department of Corrections — which Hickenlooper said is expected to deal with a 2.3 percent inmate increase — will also receive about $42 million in additional funding next year, about a 6 percent budget increase, much of which will go toBudget continues on Page 14
Williams
Witt
Jeffco voters choose Williams, Newkirk, Witt Crystal Anderson
canderson@ourcoloradonews.com Jefferson County constituents voted in three conservative candidates to Districts 1, 2 and 5 in the general election Tuesday. Conservative candidates Julie Williams, John Newkirk and Ken Witt showed an early lead in the races after polls closed at 7 p.m. Tuesday evening. Wednesday morning results indicated Julie Williams won over opponent Tonya Aultman-Bettridge with 76,706 to 48,414 votes, about 61 percent to 39 percent. “I think the people have spoken, it’s because of my boldness — I spoke out on some issues that weren’t being talked about and now they are,” Williams said Tuesday evening. Williams is a Colorado native who grew up in the Jeffco school district. She has served with the Special Education Advisory Committee in Jeffco for more than four years and is currently a co-chair with the organization. She has also served in several aspects of the special needs community and owns an orthodontic practice serving children in Jefferson County. “We are honored and humbled to focus on increased academic achievement, parental and community involvement. I believe this team can move those and other issues forward,” Witt said, referring to the joint effort of the three like-minded candidates. In the race for the District 2 seat, Newkirk defeated opponent Jeff Lamontagne by 67,289 to 56,892, a margin of about 54 percent to 46 percent, in results posted Wednesday morning.
Voters continues on Page 14
Soldiers at the Federal Center post the colors at a Veterans Day event held on Nov. 5. Photos by Clarke Reader
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