The 2015 Fiscal Forum: Presented by the Colorado Fiscal Institute

Friday, January 9, 2015

Colorado Convention Center

Meeting Rooms 601, 603, 605

AGENDA

7:45-8:30 a.m. Breakfast and Networking

8:30 a.m. Welcome

Carol Hedges, Executive Director, Colorado Fiscal Institute

8:45-9:30 a.m. Revenue Prospects for the Next Couple of Years

Natalie Mullis, Chief Economist, Colorado Legislative Council Staff

Ms. Mullis will provide insight and context for the Colorado Legislative Council December 2014 Economic Forecast, including details on economic trends and their impact on state revenue.

9:30-10:15 a.m. What We Can Expect from the 114th Congress

Ellen Nissenbaum, Senior Vice President for Government Affairs for the Center on Budget & Policy Priorities

Ms. Nissenbaum will preview tax and budget issues facing the 114th US Congress with a special focus on health care and other issues that directly affect state budgets.

10:15-10:45 a.m. Looking Beyond the Current Revenue Forecasts: The Structural Deficit

Phyllis Resnick, Ph. D., Lead Economist, Colorado Futures Center, Colorado State University

Ms. Resnick will provide results of the analysis prepared by the Colorado Futures Center on the trajectory of state spending and revenue generation. This groundbreaking research illuminates the size and causes of the structural deficit facing the State of Colorado.

10:45-11:00 a.m. Networking Break  — Snacks and Beverages

11:00-11:30 a.m. Legal Challenges: Prospects for Changing the Fiscal Environment

David Skaggs, Senior Strategic Advisor and Independent Consultant, McKenna Long and Aldridge, LLP

Mr. Skaggs will provide an update on Kerr v. Hickenlooper, a federal district court case challenging the constitutionality of Colorado’s TABOR amendment.

Kathy Gebhardt, Executive Director, Children’s Voices

Ms. Gebhardt will provide an update on Dwyer v State of Colorado, a state district court case challenging the constitutionality of the Colorado General Assembly’s use of the “negative factor” to limit state funding for K-12 schools.

11:30-12:00 p.m. Update on GPI and Reminder of TABOR options

Chris Stiffler, Economist, Colorado Fiscal Institute

Mr. Stiffler will provide the 2015 update of CFI’s Genuine Progress Indicator for Colorado, an alternative measure of economic well-being for the state.

Carol Hedges, Executive Director, Colorado Fiscal Institute

Ms. Hedges will outline current legislative policy for distributing TABOR rebates to tax payers that are created when state revenue exceeds the constitutionally mandated revenue cap.

12:00-1:00 p.m. Understanding the Public’s View of Economic and Fiscal Issues

David Winkler, Vice President and Director of Research, Project New America

Mr. Winkler will share results of recent public opinion research on Coloradans’ attitudes following the 2014 election with a special focus on attitudes about the economy, taxes and state investments.

Joseph Grady, Ph. D., Principal, Topos Partnership

Mr. Grady will outline Topos’ research on public attitudes about the role of government, taxes and public investments. He will highlight the work Topos is undertaking in four states, including Colorado.

Printable verision of the 2015 Fiscal Forum Agenda