DENVER (AP) -- Facing an expected $1 billion shortfall in next year's budget, 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.
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.
(Copyright 2009 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
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