Title: Home | Colorado State Budget
Headings: Explore the
Colorado State Budget

Explore the
Colorado State Budget
Budget Basics
Budget Sources
General Funds
Cash Funds
Federal Funds
Budget Timeline
Budget Preparation
Budget bills
All other bills
How Big is the State Budget?
What is “the budget”?
Transfers to Local Governments
Double-Counted Dollars
Explore the State Budget
The Operating Budget
The Big Six
Health Care
Slice of The State Budget
Department Funding
Where does the funding go?
Major Spending Drivers
K-12 Education
Slice of The State Budget
Department Funding
Where does the funding go?
Major Spending Drivers
Higher Education
Slice of The State Budget
Department Funding
Where does the funding go?
Major Spending Drivers
Human Services
Slice of The State Budget
Department Funding
Where does the funding go?
Major Spending Drivers
Corrections
Slice of The State Budget
Department Funding
Where does the funding go?
Major Spending Drivers
Slice of The State Budget
Department Funding
Where does the funding go?
Major Spending Drivers
Transportation Funding
Transportation
Slice of The State Budget
Department Funding
Where does the funding go?
Major Spending Drivers
The Capital Budget
Capital Construction & Information Technology
Budget Process
State Funding
Where does the funding go?
Major Spending Drivers
Explore State Revenue
Where Do My Taxes and Fees Go?
State Revenue Sources
What is TABOR?
Voter Approval for Taxes
Limits on State Revenue
Share Your Ideas & Further Reading
Share Your Budget Ideas
Budget Resources from Legislative Staff Agencies
Joint Budget Committee Staff Documents
Fiscal Policy & Tax Research
State Economic & Revenue Forecasts
Online Tax Handbook
Other Budget Resources
Governor’s Dashboard
Transparency Online Project
Colorado Comprehensive Annual Financial Reports
Still Have Questions?

Content: The last time this occurred was in 1999 when voters approved $1.7 billion in bonds for transportation projects. The state budget provides funding for state services, including health care, human services, higher education, state roads, and state courts and prisons. Additionally, a portion of the state budget goes to local governments, including school districts, cities, and counties, to help fund K-12 education, local roads, and public assistance programs. While the state provides a portion of this funding, these services are administered at the local government level. Some local governments, such as the Regional Transportation District (RTD), are administered and funded locally without state support. Learn More About Where Funding Goes
Budget Sources
Three major funds make up about a third of the state’s operating budget. General Funds
The most flexible source of funding is General Fund revenue, which is used for state programs including education, health care, human services, and corrections. The largest sources of General Fund revenue are income and sales taxes. Cash Funds
Cash funds are required by law to be spent on certain programs (e.g., vehicle registration fees and the gas tax must be spent on transportation). Most revenue to cash funds comes from fees for government services.