Ground view of Colorado State Capitol building dome

Inside the House of Representatives at the Colorado State Capitol

How big is the state budget and where does the money come from? Who sets the budget and how? What restrictions is the state budget under? Our budget basics answer your most burning questions.

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Budget Basics 101

Colorado Budget Basics

Discover how Colorado’s state budget shapes the future of our communities. This resource unpacks the key players and processes, empowering you to see how our collective values are reflected in every dollar spent.

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TABOR Basics

Learn how Colorado’s Taxpayer’s Bill of Rights (TABOR) influences the way our state raises and spends money. This resource breaks down how TABOR limits government growth, affects public services, and shapes debates on taxes and refunds—empowering you to understand how fiscal policy reflects our shared priorities and values.

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Colorado Tax Basics

Uncover the story behind Colorado’s tax system. We break down how revenue is raised and used, revealing how tax policies shape our communities, reflect our values, and drive opportunities for a more equitable future.

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Federal Budget & Taxes

Dive into the big picture, where complex federal decisions meet real-life impacts on Colorado communities. This resource reveals how national funding priorities shape local opportunities to drive growth and prosperity across the state.

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Discover the challenges of Colorado's $1.2B budget shortfall. Learn how TABOR caps impact spending on essentials like Medicaid & education.

The Math Don’t Work: Colorado’s Budget Crisis, Explained with Toasters and Sadness

April 25, 2025

We’ve Been Talking About the Structural Deficit for Years At the Colorado Fiscal Institute, we’ve been talking about the structural deficit for roughly the last seven years. We’d bring it…

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Earth Day

Trail Work, Not Tax Cuts: An Earth Day Reflection from the Colorado Wilderness

April 22, 2025

Picture this, a group of 12 or so people standing in a circle amongst tall Colorado pine trees, all of us wearing hard hats and long sleeves in 94-degree weather,…

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Medicaid Work Requirements Harm Families and Strain Colorado’s Systems

April 18, 2025

Medicaid work requirements are policies that condition continued health coverage on a person’s ability to meet certain “community engagement” activities—such…

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TABOR + Tax Cuts = Recipe for Disaster

April 14, 2025

A Friendly Reminder This Tax Day This Tax Day, it’s worth remembering that tax policy is spending policy – and…

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The Rent is Too Damn High

April 11, 2025

Why TABOR Makes Housing So Unaffordable in Colorado Colorado is now ranked the 6th least affordable state in the country,…

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