Gov. John Hickenlooper presents his last Colorado budget request

Colorado’s John Hickenlooper on Friday presented his last budget request as governor to lawmakers — one he says helps prepare the state for an eventual recession.

Hickenlooper spoke on Friday before the Legislature’s Joint Budget Committee. The bipartisan panel will use the proposal in fashioning a state budget for fiscal years 2019-2020 during next year’s legislative session.

The governor’s $33.4 billion request is nearly 5 percent, or about $1.5 billion, above the current budget.

It includes $13.2 billion in discretionary spending and would increase state reserves from 7.25 percent to 8 percent of the general fund — more than $954 million — to prepare for an economic downturn.

Read more: https://coloradosun.com/2018/11/16/hickenlopper-budget-request-colorado-final-2018/