June 30, 2009 10:48 PM UTC

Senate Returns $627,000 To State

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• by: Colorado Pols

After some tough press last week regarding a couple of small but politically inconvenient expenditures, the Colorado Senate leadership announced today that it is returning over $627,000 in unneeded funds to the state. Says Senate President Brandon Shaffer, “The cuts start here. We must be first in line to demonstrate fiscal restraint.”

Full release follows: had the timing been a little different this could have muted a lot of criticism last week, but it’s a welcome gesture in any event–and should take the the pressure off that “team building retreat” business pretty neatly.

COLORADO SENATE TO RETURN $627,000 TO STATE FROM LEGISLATIVE BUDGET

Shaffer directs State Capitol staff to identify an additional 10% in cuts

DENVER –  Senate President Brandon Shaffer (D-Longmont) 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 Shaffer froze all funds for legislative out-of-state travel.  Since then he has 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.Shaffer’s 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,” said Pres. Shaffer.  Shaffer intends to make further reductions in legislative operating expense in next year’s budget.  Shaffer will ask the Legislative Management Team to review next year’s budget to seek a 10% reduction in the cost of running the legislature.

Shaffer said he supports the Governor’s call to reduce the cost of government by ten percent.   A former naval officer, he said he intends to bring military rigor to the budget process, and will work with Governor’s staff to cut every unnecessary expense from state government.

Senator Shaffer was re-elected to a second four-year term in November, and was voted President of the Senate by a unanimous vote of the full Senate on April 20, 2009.

Note:   At this time, $627,000 is an estimated amount of fund reverted.  The exact amount reverted will be available in August after all the accounting has been completed.