The Colorado Legislature is proposing a major overhaul to the state’s budget, in a move that would redirect money toward rural schools and roads.
As The Denver Post reports,millions in new tax dollars would also be put toward helping save rural hospitals in the Centennial State. Colorado has been experiencing an economic boom for years now, but rural parts of the state have been left behind. Now, lawmakers want to spread some of that wealth to less fortunate citizens in small towns.
The Legislature is considering allocating $3.5 billion for road repair, including $300 million for road projects in counties with populations of 50,000 or less. Senate Bill 267 would also put $400 million toward rural school districts and direct millions more to rural hospitals with large numbers of Medicaid patients.