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 remainder of the state budget comes from cash funds and federal funds, which must be used for specific purposes as determined by state and federal law. Other forms of state spending occur outside of the state budget. For example, federal funds for food assistance programs and some federal and private funding for higher education research projects are not “appropriated” by the state legislature. In addition, some amounts are not spent by the state. Transfers to Local Governments
About a quarter of state operating funds are allocated to local governments, including school districts, cities, and counties for spending on education, transportation, and human services programs. Double-Counted Dollars
About $2.1 billion (6.5%) in the FY 2019-20 state operating budget are “reappropriated” funds, meaning these funds are allocated to one state department, but actually spent by another. In a nutshell, these funds are double-counted and can even be counted more than twice in the state budget. Explore the State Budget
When most people talk about the budget, they are referring to the state budget, which is determined by the state legislature. The state budget includes funding for day-to-day operations and for capital spending. Other forms of state spending are not included in the budget.