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School Finance Funding Comparison Under HB 14-1298, FY 2014-15

Current Law vs. HB 14-1298

In July of 2013, Corona Insights was retained to conduct the 2013 Colorado School District Cost of Living Study for the Colorado Legislative Council. This study measures the differences in the cost to purchase a typical “market basket” of goods among the 178 public school districts in the State of Colorado. Final cost of living factors detailed within this study reflect the relative cost differences for all notable sitespecific living expenses (i.e., housing, transportation, goods, services and taxes) among Colorado’s school districts.

School Finance Funding Comparison Assuming Passage of Both HB 14-1292 and HB 14-1298, FY 2014-15

Current Law vs. Passage of HB 14-1292 and HB 14-1298 Combined

New construction and substantial renovation of academic buildings and facilities constructed or maintained with state General Fund moneys (hereafter referred to as "state facilities") are required to comply with the High Performance Certification Program (HPCP). The program requires the application of energy efficiency standards and sustainable building practices to achieve operational cost savings and a decreased environmental impact. This issue brief outlines details of the HPCP.

The individual income tax is the largest source of General Fund revenue, accounting for 60 percent of General Fund collections in FY 2013-14. This issue brief provides a brief history of Colorado income tax rates, discusses the general process for determining Colorado’s individual income tax, the amount of revenue collected, and how the tax compares with surrounding states

This issue brief reviews the US-36 Express Lane Project, which involves the widening and reconstruction of US-36 between Federal Boulevard in Denver and Table Mesa Drive in Boulder. In the 1950s, this section of the highway opened as a four-lane toll road as an alternative to driving through Longmont or Golden to get between Denver and Boulder. At that time, it cost 25 cents for cars and 50 cents for trucks to travel the length of the road. The tolls were discontinued in 1968 after bonds were paid off. Today, this section of US-36 carries approximately 80,000 to 100,000 cars daily.

The 2014 general election includes races for several state and federal offices. This issue brief provides an overview of key dates for the 2014 primary and general elections and highlights other information on voter registration, mail ballots, and voting procedures after various changes to election law in recent years.

Gun control is a much studied and debated topic. Proponents of gun control argue that the availability of firearms is directly linked to gun deaths and injury, especially in situations of domestic violence. Opponents counter that crime victims who defend themselves with guns are less likely to be injured or killed, and that gun possession is a civil right, guaranteed by the U.S. Constitution.

State and federal regulations set standards for the size and weight of commercial vehicles operated on public highways. A commercial vehicle is any vehicle used for commerce or that has a gross vehicle weight rating of 10,000 pounds or more. For commercial vehicles that exceed the established size and weight standards, a state permitting process provides legal access via routes that are safe for nondivisible, oversize and overweight vehicles to travel along. Standards and policy concerning the size and weight of commercial vehicles and permitting are important for several reasons:

In response to natural disasters that have hit Colorado in recent years, the General Assembly has enacted a number of tax breaks aimed at mitigating or relieving the impact of these disasters on taxpayers. Tax breaks can take a number of different forms, such as an income tax deduction, exemption, or credit.

Prior to being discharged from the state criminal justice system, adult offenders are released from prison for a period of parole. This issue brief summarizes recent state adult parole initiatives. These include the offender reentry programs authorized in House Bill 14-1355, and the “intermediate sanctions” program established in Senate Bill 15-124 to reduce offender returns to prison for certain technical violations.