Colorado Futures Center Tours State to Educate on Fiscal Challenges

CSU economic think-tank, Colorado Futures Center, schedules stops throughout Colorado to present recent study findings of long-term state fiscal sustainability.

Denver – The Colorado Futures Center at Colorado State University has scheduled select stops throughout the state of Colorado to present study findings of the long-term challenges the state will face in paying for state government services that go into preserving Colorado’s quality of life, including K-12 education, health care, corrections, courts, higher education and a host of others.

“This is a very important issue with significant implications for Colorado’s long-term quality of life and state government’s ability to meet the needs and expectations of current and future citizens,” said Colorado Futures Center Director Charles Brown. “The decisions made at the polls and at the Capitol have impacts that stay with us for many years to come, and this study illustrates the difficulties that are ahead if we stay on the current path and don’t take steps now to change course.”

Brown and Colorado Futures Center Lead Economist Dr. Phyllis Resnick will make stops in Lamar, Alamosa and Durango May 19-21 to share the message about their study findings.

Tour schedule:

Sustainability Study Colorado Tour: Lamar
May 19, 2014
6:30-8 p.m.
Lamar Community College, Bowman Building Large Lecture Hall, #139
2401 S. Main St., Lamar

Sustainability Study Colorado Tour: Alamosa
May 20, 2014
1:30 – 3 p.m.
Adams State University
McDaniel Hall, Room 101
1500 First St., Alamosa 81101

Sustainability Study Colorado Tour: Durango
May 21, 2014
10 – 11:30 a.m.
La Plata County Extension Office
2500 Main St., Durango

The Colorado Futures Center’s released a video providing a summary of the Sustainability Study, which analyzes the long-term fiscal health of Colorado government’s main checking account for the decades ahead and builds on the widely-cited, award-winning study first completed in 2011. The video is available here: http://vimeo.com/90800541.

The 2013 study looks ahead to 2030, when the state could experience a structural shortfall of nearly $3 billion. Colorado’s constitution requires a balanced budget every year, so meaningful changes need to happen now in order to head off a worst-case scenario. The new video also lays out some potential solutions for lawmakers and voters to consider.

“Government cannot fix the challenge outlined by our study with across-the-board spending cuts or tax rate increases; it’s going to take a structural approach to fix a structural problem, blending thoughtful and creative solutions to really get at the root issues threatening Colorado’s long-term fiscal health,” Brown said.

Resnick agreed and noted the importance of having the video relay to the public the impact of waiting to make changes to our state’s fiscal policy.

“The public needs to understand what’s at stake and take an active role in a discussion about Colorado’s future,” Resnick said. “If we don’t make changes now, we will be dealing with the negative impacts to the quality of life that we all love about Colorado. If we ignore this problem, the services that we have become reliant upon will take significant hits into the future.”

About the Colorado Futures Center

The Colorado Futures Center at Colorado State University provides vital research and analysis of public policies impacting Colorado’s future and quality of life. The Center delivers independent, nonpartisan and academically grounded input on a broad range of issues related to the economic health of the state of Colorado.

The Colorado Futures Center fits within CSU’s commitment to excellence, setting the standard for public research universities in teaching, research, service and extension for the benefit of the citizens of Colorado, the United States and the world. In support of that mission, the Colorado Futures Center produces research to help Colorado’s citizens and leaders make decisions that strengthen the state’s economy and quality of life. More information: www.colostate.edu/coloradofutures.

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Alicia Downing
Colorado State University Extension
(719) 336-7734
http://prowers.colostate.edu