Colorado Governor Signs 2026-27 Budget After Months of Cuts to Close Shortfall

Colorado Gov. Jared Polis signed the state's budget for fiscal year 2026-27, a spending plan negotiated by the Democratic-majority legislature amid a significant budget shortfall. Reports place the total budget between $46.8 billion and $47 billion, and describe the shortfall as more than $1 billion, with some accounts specifying $1.5 billion. The legislature relied on cuts, transfers, and other budget mechanisms to balance the plan, including reductions to Medicaid and other state programs. The budget process unfolded over several months, with the Joint Budget Committee working through the fiscal challenges before final passage. Joint Budget Committee Chair Emily Sirota called finalizing the spending plan under these conditions "pretty remarkable." Republican Rep. Rick Taggart characterized the outcome by saying "Nobody won in this budget," pointing to cuts affecting vulnerable residents. The legislative session concluded with nearly 200 bills passed for the year, marking the final session for term-limited Gov. Polis. The budget signing and legislative session conclusion were reported as largely along party lines, with cuts to Medicaid and other services drawing criticism from lawmakers across the aisle. The exact final dollar figures for both the total budget and the shortfall vary slightly between reports and remain not fully reconciled. Further details on which specific programs beyond Medicaid faced cuts, and the long-term fiscal outlook following this budget, were not specified in available reporting.