Today, I announced the Colorado Senate will return $627,000 from its operating budget to the State’s General Fund on June 30. That’s more than twice the usual amount reverted in past years. In January I froze all funds for legislative out-of-state travel. Since then I reduced the average staff salaries by 17% in the President’s office, for a total savings of $74,000, and barred the practice of giving staff bonuses.
The freeze on travel resulted in the return of $38,600 to the state. Savings on Interim Committees, lower operating costs and no special session provided the balance of the funds returned.
The cuts start here. We must be first in line to demonstrate fiscal restraint. I intends to make further reductions in legislative operating expense in next year’s budget. I will ask the Legislative Management Team to review next year’s budget to seek a 10% reduction in the cost of running the legislature.
I support the Governor’s call to reduce the cost of government by ten percent. As former naval officer I intend to bring military rigor to the budget process, and will work with Governor’s staff to cut every unnecessary expense from state government.