DENVER, COLO. -- Public schools could take an even bigger budget hit next year.

Gov. John Hickenlooper will unveil his budget proposal for the state on Tuesday.

He's expected to announce more cuts as one-time federal stimulus money dries up and the state faces more demand for services because of the troubled economy.

Education groups say kindergarten through 12th-grade schools could be cut by between $300 and $400 million, worse than the $260 million cut schools saw this year.

Hickenlooper's proposal will be for the budget year that begins in July.

The final say rests with state lawmakers, who will draw up their own budget proposal and pass it before the session ends in May.

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