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DENVER, CO — JBC Chair Representative Daneya Esgar, D-Pueblo, and Vice-Chair Senator Dominick Moreno, D-Commerce City, today released the following statements announcing that JBC action will not resume before April 7.
“Between the challenges of balancing a budget with a constantly changing economy and the additional public health considerations during the pandemic, we feel it is necessary to put our budget-making on pause while we get a clearer picture of where things stand,” said JBC Chair Rep. Esgar. “Our communities, businesses and state and local governments are dealing with a pandemic, and we have to be able to respond appropriately to the needs across the state. The situation continues to evolve, and we want to ensure we’re making final budget decisions with the best information possible under these challenging circumstances.” “In the midst of this ongoing public health crisis, it is crucial that we put all of our focus on the immediate wellbeing of Coloradans,” said JBC Vice-Chair Sen. Moreno. “Creating a holistic budget for the state is dependent on a variety of factors that are in flux right now. So for the time being, we believe it would be premature to put forward a budget while so much remains uncertain. We will continue to work diligently to determine a path forward as this situation evolves.”
JBC hearings are postponed until April 7 at the earliest, and JBC and legislative leadership will continue to monitor the situation to determine when it’s appropriate to resume. In the meantime, JBC members will continue gathering information and staff will continue working to prepare for budget decisions to begin again, with final decisions postponed until hearings resume.