DENVER -- Facing an expected $1 billion shortfall in next year's budget, Colorado Gov. Bill Ritter is proposing a 4.6 percent cut in education spending and charging sales tax on items including candy and soda and online purchases.
Under a plan submitted to state lawmakers Friday, kindergarten through 12th grade schools would get $260 million less than they're getting this year.
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Schools wouldn't get another $184.6 million because of a change in the way their annual mandatory increase is calculated under Amendment 23. The voter-approved amendment has largely protected education from deep cuts during the recession.
State workers would have to pick up the state's share of their pension contribution, 2.5 percent of their salary, for a year to save $20.1 million.
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