By Allie Winter, STATE BILL COLORADO
Gov. Bill Ritter released a statement today announcing that despite recent achievements in job creation, additional budget cuts are part of the revenue forecast.
“Just as families and businesses are going to keep tightening their belts, so will state government,” Ritter said. “We always balance to the lowest forecast, and based on today’s numbers, it looks like we’ll need to do some additional work to re-balance the current FY09-10 budget and the proposed 10-11 budget.”
On a brighter note, the Colorado Department of Labor and Employment reported that Colorado gained 2,800 jobs in October and November and that the state’s unemployment rate declined 0.1 percent in November, to 6.9 percent. However, Ritter continued, this is by no means the end of the battle.
“We still have tough times ahead,” Ritter said. ”It will take years to regain all the jobs we lost, and it will be a while before state government revenues recover.”
Ritter did not specify where cuts will take place, but said he’ll be working closely with lawmakers in coming days to keep the budget balanced, and he would know more in the next few days. Further, Ritter explained that some of the choices they make may be unpopular, but necessary to stay on the path to recovery.
