Colorado's latest revenue forecast was good news for lawmakers, showing a healthy economy and more money for the state budget. There was also one notable hedge, the uncertainty around low oil prices and the oil industry's effect on the state economy.
So just what are the implications of more state revenue? We turn to the reporters that work the halls of the capitol to find out.
In the roundtable is Ivan Moreno of The Associated Press and Ed Sealover with the Denver Business Journal.
Capitol Conversation Highlights
What It Means For The State Budget
Ivan Moreno, AP: "We are now at a time where we're looking at a TABOR refund, something lawmakers haven't had to deal with in more than a decade. It's gotten to the point where it may seem like Colorado is bringing in more revenue. But a lot of that revenue now is already spoken for or they have to refund it to taxpayers, we're also looking at statutory triggers with transportation funding."
Ed Sealover, Denver Business Journal: "Right now we're looking at a scenario where the General Fund could lose $102 million to transportation, it could lose $204 million to transportation, or it could lose nothing."
What It Means For Pending Legislation
Sealover: "Right now bills that have any money attached to it are suddenly about the most unpopular bills in this building and people are going to be scampering to try to save things like a tax break for data centers, a program that can detect fire and floods earlier, or even a felony DUI bill, all of them completely in limbo."
