State Employees Rally For Pay Raises
DENVER (CBS4)- Employees for the State of Colorado rallied at the state Capitol on Thursday. They want their pay raises reinstated now that the revenue forecast is showing increases.
Colorado's budget outlook is looking up despite some areas of the economy considered fragile.
The latest forecast shows Colorado will collect an additional $239 million in taxes this fiscal year on top of what was already predicted.
That means general fund revenue will reach $8 billion just above the pre-recession peak in 2007.
Much of that money is already earmarked for K-12 education.
Gov. John Hickenlooper will ask lawmakers to devote $100 million to help cover the growing number of people using Medicaid.
State employees said at their rally that the recession has been especially tough on the middle class and are asking state leaders not to leave them behind.
State employees have not had a pay raise in four years.
"Now is not the time to ask state employees to tighten our belts but to ensure we are on the road to economic recovery," said one state employee during the rally.
State economists said the revenue in Colorado is continuing to improve at a faster-than-expected rate because of taxes on stock sales and oil and gas development.
