• Resources
  • Blog
  • Journalists
  • Log In
  • Sign Up
  • Data Privacy
  • Send a Release
Cision PR Newswire: news distribution, targeting and monitoring home
  • News
  • Products
    • Overview
    • Distribution by PR Newswire
    • Cision Communications Cloud®
    • Cision IR
    • Sponsored Placement
    • All Products
  • Contact
    • General Inquiries
    • Request a Demo
    • Editorial Bureaus
    • Partnerships
    • Media Inquiries
    • Worldwide Offices

 

When typing in this field, a list of search results will appear and be automatically updated as you type.

Searching for your content...

No results found. Please change your search terms and try again.
  • News in Focus
      • Browse News Releases

      • All News Releases
      • All Public Company
      • English-only
      • News Releases Overview

      • Multimedia Gallery

      • All Multimedia
      • All Photos
      • All Videos
      • Multimedia Gallery Overview

      • Trending Topics

      • All Trending Topics
  • Business & Money
      • Auto & Transportation

      • All Automotive & Transportation
      • Aerospace, Defense
      • Air Freight
      • Airlines & Aviation
      • Automotive
      • Maritime & Shipbuilding
      • Railroads and Intermodal Transportation
      • Supply Chain/Logistics
      • Transportation, Trucking & Railroad
      • Travel
      • Trucking and Road Transportation
      • Auto & Transportation Overview

      • View All Auto & Transportation

      • Business Technology

      • All Business Technology
      • Blockchain
      • Broadcast Tech
      • Computer & Electronics
      • Computer Hardware
      • Computer Software
      • Data Analytics
      • Electronic Commerce
      • Electronic Components
      • Electronic Design Automation
      • Financial Technology
      • High Tech Security
      • Internet Technology
      • Nanotechnology
      • Networks
      • Peripherals
      • Semiconductors
      • Business Technology Overview

      • View All Business Technology

      • Entertain­ment & Media

      • All Entertain­ment & Media
      • Advertising
      • Art
      • Books
      • Entertainment
      • Film and Motion Picture
      • Magazines
      • Music
      • Publishing & Information Services
      • Radio & Podcast
      • Television
      • Entertain­ment & Media Overview

      • View All Entertain­ment & Media

      • Financial Services & Investing

      • All Financial Services & Investing
      • Accounting News & Issues
      • Acquisitions, Mergers and Takeovers
      • Banking & Financial Services
      • Bankruptcy
      • Bond & Stock Ratings
      • Conference Call Announcements
      • Contracts
      • Cryptocurrency
      • Dividends
      • Earnings
      • Earnings Forecasts & Projections
      • Financing Agreements
      • Insurance
      • Investments Opinions
      • Joint Ventures
      • Mutual Funds
      • Private Placement
      • Real Estate
      • Restructuring & Recapitalization
      • Sales Reports
      • Shareholder Activism
      • Shareholder Meetings
      • Stock Offering
      • Stock Split
      • Venture Capital
      • Financial Services & Investing Overview

      • View All Financial Services & Investing

      • General Business

      • All General Business
      • Awards
      • Commercial Real Estate
      • Corporate Expansion
      • Earnings
      • Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG)
      • Human Resource & Workforce Management
      • Licensing
      • New Products & Services
      • Obituaries
      • Outsourcing Businesses
      • Overseas Real Estate (non-US)
      • Personnel Announcements
      • Real Estate Transactions
      • Residential Real Estate
      • Small Business Services
      • Socially Responsible Investing
      • Surveys, Polls and Research
      • Trade Show News
      • General Business Overview

      • View All General Business

  • Science & Tech
      • Consumer Technology

      • All Consumer Technology
      • Artificial Intelligence
      • Blockchain
      • Cloud Computing/Internet of Things
      • Computer Electronics
      • Computer Hardware
      • Computer Software
      • Consumer Electronics
      • Cryptocurrency
      • Data Analytics
      • Electronic Commerce
      • Electronic Gaming
      • Financial Technology
      • Mobile Entertainment
      • Multimedia & Internet
      • Peripherals
      • Social Media
      • STEM (Science, Tech, Engineering, Math)
      • Supply Chain/Logistics
      • Wireless Communications
      • Consumer Technology Overview

      • View All Consumer Technology

      • Energy & Natural Resources

      • All Energy
      • Alternative Energies
      • Chemical
      • Electrical Utilities
      • Gas
      • General Manufacturing
      • Mining
      • Mining & Metals
      • Oil & Energy
      • Oil and Gas Discoveries
      • Utilities
      • Water Utilities
      • Energy & Natural Resources Overview

      • View All Energy & Natural Resources

      • Environ­ment

      • All Environ­ment
      • Conservation & Recycling
      • Environmental Issues
      • Environmental Policy
      • Environmental Products & Services
      • Green Technology
      • Natural Disasters
      • Environ­ment Overview

      • View All Environ­ment

      • Heavy Industry & Manufacturing

      • All Heavy Industry & Manufacturing
      • Aerospace & Defense
      • Agriculture
      • Chemical
      • Construction & Building
      • General Manufacturing
      • HVAC (Heating, Ventilation and Air-Conditioning)
      • Machinery
      • Machine Tools, Metalworking and Metallurgy
      • Mining
      • Mining & Metals
      • Paper, Forest Products & Containers
      • Precious Metals
      • Textiles
      • Tobacco
      • Heavy Industry & Manufacturing Overview

      • View All Heavy Industry & Manufacturing

      • Telecomm­unications

      • All Telecomm­unications
      • Carriers and Services
      • Mobile Entertainment
      • Networks
      • Peripherals
      • Telecommunications Equipment
      • Telecommunications Industry
      • VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol)
      • Wireless Communications
      • Telecomm­unications Overview

      • View All Telecomm­unications

  • Lifestyle & Health
      • Consumer Products & Retail

      • All Consumer Products & Retail
      • Animals & Pets
      • Beers, Wines and Spirits
      • Beverages
      • Bridal Services
      • Cannabis
      • Cosmetics and Personal Care
      • Fashion
      • Food & Beverages
      • Furniture and Furnishings
      • Home Improvement
      • Household, Consumer & Cosmetics
      • Household Products
      • Jewelry
      • Non-Alcoholic Beverages
      • Office Products
      • Organic Food
      • Product Recalls
      • Restaurants
      • Retail
      • Supermarkets
      • Toys
      • Consumer Products & Retail Overview

      • View All Consumer Products & Retail

      • Entertain­ment & Media

      • All Entertain­ment & Media
      • Advertising
      • Art
      • Books
      • Entertainment
      • Film and Motion Picture
      • Magazines
      • Music
      • Publishing & Information Services
      • Radio & Podcast
      • Television
      • Entertain­ment & Media Overview

      • View All Entertain­ment & Media

      • Health

      • All Health
      • Biometrics
      • Biotechnology
      • Clinical Trials & Medical Discoveries
      • Dentistry
      • FDA Approval
      • Fitness/Wellness
      • Health Care & Hospitals
      • Health Insurance
      • Infection Control
      • International Medical Approval
      • Medical Equipment
      • Medical Pharmaceuticals
      • Mental Health
      • Pharmaceuticals
      • Supplementary Medicine
      • Health Overview

      • View All Health

      • Sports

      • All Sports
      • General Sports
      • Outdoors, Camping & Hiking
      • Sporting Events
      • Sports Equipment & Accessories
      • Sports Overview

      • View All Sports

      • Travel

      • All Travel
      • Amusement Parks and Tourist Attractions
      • Gambling & Casinos
      • Hotels and Resorts
      • Leisure & Tourism
      • Outdoors, Camping & Hiking
      • Passenger Aviation
      • Travel Industry
      • Travel Overview

      • View All Travel

  • Policy & Public Interest
      • Policy & Public Interest

      • All Policy & Public Interest
      • Advocacy Group Opinion
      • Animal Welfare
      • Congressional & Presidential Campaigns
      • Corporate Social Responsibility
      • Domestic Policy
      • Economic News, Trends, Analysis
      • Education
      • Environmental
      • European Government
      • FDA Approval
      • Federal and State Legislation
      • Federal Executive Branch & Agency
      • Foreign Policy & International Affairs
      • Homeland Security
      • Labor & Union
      • Legal Issues
      • Natural Disasters
      • Not For Profit
      • Patent Law
      • Public Safety
      • Trade Policy
      • U.S. State Policy
      • Policy & Public Interest Overview

      • View All Policy & Public Interest

  • People & Culture
      • People & Culture

      • All People & Culture
      • Aboriginal, First Nations & Native American
      • African American
      • Asian American
      • Children
      • Diversity, Equity & Inclusion
      • Hispanic
      • Lesbian, Gay & Bisexual
      • Men's Interest
      • People with Disabilities
      • Religion
      • Senior Citizens
      • Veterans
      • Women
      • People & Culture Overview

      • View All People & Culture

      • In-Language News

      • español
      • português
      • Česko
      • Danmark
      • Deutschland
      • España
      • France
      • Italia
      • Nederland
      • Norge
      • Polska
      • Portugal
      • Россия
      • Slovensko
      • Suomi
      • Sverige
  • Overview
  • Distribution by PR Newswire
  • Cision Communications Cloud®
  • Cision IR
  • Sponsored Placement
  • All Products
  • General Inquiries
  • Request a Demo
  • Editorial Bureaus
  • Partnerships
  • Media Inquiries
  • Worldwide Offices
  • PR Newswire: news distribution, targeting and monitoring
  • Send a Release
    • ALL CONTACT INFO
    • Contact Us

      888-776-0942
      from 8 AM - 10 PM ET

  • Send a Release
  • Sign Up
  • Log In
  • Resources
  • Blog
  • Journalists
  • RSS
  • GDPR
  • News in Focus
    • Browse All News
    • Multimedia Gallery
    • Trending Topics
  • Business & Money
    • Auto & Transportation
    • Business Technology
    • Entertain­ment & Media
    • Financial Services & Investing
    • General Business
  • Science & Tech
    • Consumer Technology
    • Energy & Natural Resources
    • Environ­ment
    • Heavy Industry & Manufacturing
    • Telecomm­unications
  • Lifestyle & Health
    • Consumer Products & Retail
    • Entertain­ment & Media
    • Health
    • Sports
    • Travel
  • Policy & Public Interest
  • People & Culture
    • People & Culture
  • Send a Release
  • Sign Up
  • Log In
  • Resources
  • Blog
  • Journalists
  • RSS
  • GDPR
  • Overview
  • Distribution by PR Newswire
  • Cision Communications Cloud®
  • Cision IR
  • All Products
  • Send a Release
  • Sign Up
  • Log In
  • Resources
  • Blog
  • Journalists
  • RSS
  • GDPR
  • General Inquiries
  • Request a Demo
  • Editorial Bureaus
  • Partnerships
  • Media Inquiries
  • Worldwide Offices
  • Send a Release
  • Sign Up
  • Log In
  • Resources
  • Blog
  • Journalists
  • RSS
  • GDPR

Rethinking Colorado's Government: Principles and Policies for Fiscal Sustainability


News provided by

University of Denver

Oct 03, 2011, 03:08 ET

Share this article

Share this article


DENVER, Oct. 3, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The University of Denver Strategic Issues Program today releases its report on Colorado's long-running fiscal crisis. The report, Rethinking Colorado's Government, represents a year of study by a non-partisan panel of 20 accomplished business, professional and community leaders drawn from across the state. The work was funded by the University as part of its ongoing commitment to the public good.

During its process, the panel received more than 30 presentations from officials, experts and advocates in government, business, labor, health care, academia and more. In addition to receiving presentations, panel members reviewed a wide range of written materials and held extensive discussions on key issues facing Colorado and other states. The enclosed report reflects the consensus of the University of Denver Strategic Issues Panel on State Government.

The report concludes that Colorado, like many other states, suffers from a cyclical and structural fiscal imbalance that undermines Colorado's fiscal stability over the long term. While Colorado's budget situation may slowly improve as the economy recovers, it is poised to founder once again at the next economic downturn. Given Colorado's fragile financial situation, the panel concluded that achieving a strong and sustainable fiscal environment requires a fundamental rethinking of traditional governmental practices.

"There are no simple answers, and this time, history does not seem to inform a clear path forward: the solutions of the past seem to be generally ineffective in the present," says DU Chancellor Robert Coombe. "Our panel concentrated on broad principles and on the structure of government, seeking to define changes that would enhance long term fiscal stability and at the same time be applicable to a variety of policy areas."

A copy of the full report, along with video presentations from experts who provided information to the panel, is available online at www.du.edu/issues.  

"These principles do not offer simple solutions or quick fixes. The problems facing Colorado and other states will not be solved in a single stroke," says panel chair James Griesemer. "What the principles do provide are new ways to think about deeply-imbedded problems. They focus first on creating value for citizens rather than simply supporting bureaucracies and funding institutions. The principles reflect a faith in citizens to make sound choices. By encouraging government to demonstrate areas where value is being created they provide a means for building citizen support."

The University of Denver is committed to improving the human condition and engaging students and faculty in tackling the major issues of our day. DU ranks among the top 100 national universities in the U.S. For additional information, go to www.du.edu/newsroom.  

Key Principles

To get past the gridlocked debates over fiscal policy, the panel proposed a set of principles for policy making that differ significantly from "business as usual" government. Taken together, the principles suggest the need for state government to:

  • Reframe government; place citizens, rather than the institution of government, at the center of public discourse and decision making.
  • Focus on value; shift the focus of government to creating measurable value for citizens instead of thinking in traditional institutional terms.
  • Change the financial structure; use accountability centers to facilitate value assessment, dampen fiscal imbalance and highlight public subsidies.
  • Foster competition; focus on outcomes, with the state acting as an enabler, not necessarily the provider, of public services.
  • Leverage market forces; allocate resources based on citizen demand, focusing primarily on supporting individuals rather than operating institutions.
  • Fully fund programs; align authority and responsibility in intergovernmental activities, eliminate unfunded mandates and fully fund annual state obligations.

Policy Implications

The final section of the report examines several key policy issues through the prism of these principles. The panel's goal was not to offer detailed policy prescriptions but rather to suggest how these principles might change the way major policy issues are viewed. The panel's conclusions in the areas of higher education, K-12 education, transportation, Medicaid, Amendment 23 and TABOR, summarized below, illustrate the point. Other areas addressed in the report include PERA, internal governmental services and executive compensation.

Higher Education: The importance of higher education and the bleak prospects for future funding caused the panel to suggest a new approach: The state should support college and university operations through a system of stipends, scaled to reflect student financial need, which builds upon the existing College Opportunity Fund infrastructure. The boards of Colorado's universities and colleges should be given the authority to manage each institution with minimal involvement by state agencies. Colorado's institutions of higher education should be allowed to succeed or fail based upon the value they create for students.

K-12 Education: Colorado's K-12 funding system is in the worst of all worlds– displacing funding for higher education and other priorities while still falling behind other states in per pupil funding. The panel saw the need for significant change and concludes: The state's role should be limited to defining and assessing outcomes and fully funding the K-12 program. Local school districts should be free to determine how best to achieve outcomes defined by the state. The state should fund students, not school districts, through stipends to students attending public schools. Citizens should be given information to judge the value being created by the state's K-12 program and individual school districts.

Transportation: Colorado's approach to funding transportation infrastructure is in need of reconsideration. To build public support the panel suggests a balance between user fees and taxes and recommends an intense focus on demonstrating citizen value, as follows: CDOT should use an accountability center structure linking defined revenue sources to specific service areas and clearly identify the degree to which tax subsidies and fees are used. The department should shift from a technical, production perspective to a focus on citizen value, presenting its public information in those terms.

Medicaid: The panel saw Medicaid both as an important public program and a serious financial risk and observes: The governor and legislature should study the best practices of other states and take full advantage of federal waivers to create an effective program while managing financial risk. Colorado taxpayers should be provided with value information related to Medicaid by the Taxpayer Value Council. Colorado should join with other states in urging the federal government to rethink Medicaid, redefine outcomes to be achieved and fund 100 percent of the cost of the federal program.

Amendment 23: While the panel is concerned about adequate funding for K-12 education, it believes Amendment 23 weakens the state's fiscal stability and concludes: Amendment 23 runs counter to principles of fiscal sustainability by increasing expenditure momentum and mandating expenditures without regard to the availability of revenue. Amendment 23 should be repealed.

TABOR: The panel found TABOR was neither a complete impediment to progress nor an unmixed blessing for Coloradans and concludes: TABOR reduces the state's ability to create a sustainable fiscal environment by substituting formulaic approaches for legislative judgment and prohibiting certain taxes irrespective of voter preferences. The sections in TABOR that require a vote of the people for new or increased taxes should be retained. The remaining provisions of TABOR should be repealed.

SOURCE University of Denver

Modal title

Contact Cision

  • Cision Distribution 888-776-0942
    from 8 AM - 9 PM ET

  • Chat with an Expert
  • General Inquiries
  • Request a Demo
  • Editorial Bureaus
  • Partnerships
  • Media Inquiries
  • Worldwide Offices

Products

  • Cision Communication Cloud®
  • For Marketers
  • For Public Relations
  • For IR & Compliance
  • For Agency
  • For Small Business
  • All Products

About

  • About PR Newswire
  • About Cision
  • Become a Publishing Partner
  • Become a Channel Partner
  • Careers
  • COVID-19 Resources
  • Accessibility Statement
  • Asia
  • Brazil
  • Canada
  • Czech
  • Denmark
  • Finland
  • France
  • Germany
  • India
  • Israel
  • Italy
  • Mexico
  • Middle East
  • Netherlands
  • Norway
  • Poland
  • Portugal
  • Russia
  • Slovakia
  • Spain
  • Sweden
  • United Kingdom

My Services

  • All New Releases
  • Online Member Center
  • ProfNet

Contact Cision

Products

About

My Services
  • All News Releases
  • Online Member Center
  • ProfNet
Cision Distribution Helpline
888-776-0942
  • Terms of Use
  • Privacy Policy
  • Information Security Policy
  • Site Map
  • RSS
  • Cookie Settings
Copyright © 2022 Cision US Inc.