Even more cuts coming for Colorado's budget, threatening the state's most vulnerable

Good morning. Here's a look at news reports from around the state on issues of interest to the Colorado Center on Law and Policy for Tuesday, June 22, 2010. Listing does not imply endorsement of the content.

FISCAL POLICY
The Denver Post: Pot shops boosting city tax collections
Since Colorado's attorney general cleared cities to start taxing medical marijuana businesses late last year, cities across the state have seen an extra shot of cash go into their ever-tightening budgets.

The Denver Post: Colorado's ailing budget faces potentially treacherous fiscal 2011-12
The state of Colorado will barely scrape by with a balanced budget when the current fiscal year ends on June 30, and it will start the next budget year in July with up to a $72 million shortfall, prompting more cuts.
Also: Denver Daily News: Further state budget cuts needed
Also: Associated Press via Pueblo Chieftain: State eyes deeper cuts in budget
Also: Durango Herald: State budget needs modest cuts this year
Colorado News Agency: Budgeting on promise of federal dollars could leave state in the lurch
A panel of lawmakers at the Capitol was told today that even though the federal government gave every indication that “the check is in the mail”–a check for $245 million, due for delivery next year, might not be en route after all.

Denver Post editorial: Privatizing is just trash talk
Unless they want to pay more, Denver residents still have it pretty good when it comes to getting their garbage hauled off.
Aurora Sentinel editorial: Need a budget fix? Solve Colorado's costly prison system
There could be one good thing that comes from the state’s ever-increasing budget crisis: The state may be forced to deal with its costly and ineffective prison system.


ECONOMY
Denver Business Journal: Colorado lost 62,600 jobs in 2000s
Colorado has lost 62,600 private-sector jobs in the first decade of the 21st century -- 3.38 percent of the total.