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MorningMagazine_2024-11-14 Jack Dawson
State legislators spar with Polis as they grapple with $635 million budget shortfall
Colorado legislators questioned Governor Jared Polis yesterday, over what he has described as his “belt-tightening” budget proposal for the next fiscal year.
Members of the Joint Budget Committee – which will craft the upcoming state budget – questioned Polis’ recommended cuts to certain Medicaid provider rates, as well as his new school funding formula and proposed changes that would impact school districts with declining enrollment.
Committee members also raised concerns about Polis’ proposal to privatize Pinnacol Assurance, the state’s workers comp insurer. Polis responded by saying the provider could not effectively continue as the state’s insurer of last resort in the future, and that their privatization would also benefit the Public Employees Retirement Association.
The budget shortfall is largely a result of high Medicaid caseload costs, coupled with softening inflation that’s led the state to keep less money under the Taxpayer’s Bill of Rights.
According to The Denver Post, last night’s hearing was a glimpse at what’s to come over the next several months – tight and tense budget negotiations, as the legislature works to fill a $635 million hole in the $14.8 billion general fund budget proposal.
Both Democrats and Republicans expressed skepticism about Polis’ plans.
Monthly Xcel Energy gas bills will rise
Xcel Energy customers will officially see a hike in their monthly bills.
The Colorado Public Utilities Commission approved an increase of roughly $130 million in revenue, after they rejected Xcel’s initial request of $170 million.
Residential bills will rise by $4.57 per month, while bills for small businesses will rise by $17.49.
The energy utility company said the additional revenue will go toward investments in the safety of its natural gas system, and connecting new customers. That’s according to The Denver Post.
Critics have argued the company should be spending less on gas, since the state has expressed a commitment to transitioning from fossil fuels to more renewable energy sources.
The Post reports that while Xcel is increasingly adding solar and wind projects in Colorado, they will keep natural gas in their fuel mix for the foreseeable future as a backup for when power from renewable energy sources is not available.
Xcel is Colorado’s largest electric utility, providing electricity to 1.6 million customers and natural gas to 1.5 million customers, with overlaps between both groups.
Forest Service won’t hire seasonal workers next year
The staffing cuts come as Congress works to finalize how much money it’ll allocate to the Forest Service.
The Forest Service says it needs $8.9 billion in funding in order to pay it’s 30,000 employees, manage its 193 million acres, and fight wildfires. The chronically underfunded and overworked Service anticipates receiving less than that amount.
According to The Colorado Sun, officials have warned most of their partners to not expect big projects in 2025, as the agency struggles through the hiring freeze.
As far as local impacts go, the White River National Forest – which generates around $1.6 billion a year in rural Colorado – will have about 30 fewer seasonal workers next year. Those seasonal jobs include fire prevention and education, campsite management, biological field work, and trail maintenance and construction. The cuts will not impact the number of firefighters employed.
The Sun says the Forest Service will rely on Colorado volunteer groups to “fill gaps” created by the staffing shortage.
E.coli outbreak linked to McDonald sicken more than 100 people
The deadly E.coli outbreak linked to McDonald’s slivered onions has sickened 104 people in 14 states, Colorado being one of them. At least 34 people have been hospitalized and four developed hemolytic (HEE-moh-Lit-ick you-REE-mick) uremic syndrome, a condition that causes kidney failure.
An 88-year-old man in Grand Junction died as a result of the outbreak.
Reports of symptoms related to the outbreak began at the end of September. The most recent report of illness occurred on October 21, according to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.
McDonald’s reported in late October that it would reintroduce the quarter pounder to its menu without onions, after testing that the outbreak was not involved with the beef patties used.
Taylor farms, the company selling the onions to McDonald’s, has removed the onions from its supply stores/ Still, McDonald’s has decided to go with a different supplier in light of the situation, they said in a statement on Wednesday night.
It usually takes three to four weeks to determine if someone is affected by an outbreak. Most people infected with E.coli experience severe stomach cramps, diarrhea, and vomiting, and recover without treatment in a few days.
American Freight to close four stores in Colorado
A furniture and appliance store, American Freight, has decided to close all locations nationwide, including its four stores in Colorado. The store announced plans to close all 328 locations after beginning Chapter 11 proceedings in U.S. bankruptcy Court in Delaware.
The store has locations in Centennial, Colorado Springs, Pueblo, and Westminster.
Franchise Group, Inc. the parent company, will keep its other leading businesses open, which include Pet Supplies Plus, The Vitamin Shoppe, and Buddy’s Home Furnishing.
American Freight will offer shoppers 30% off storewide living room sets, dining tables, bedroom furniture, and large appliances.
