Colorado budget concerns cast shadow over special session

Gov. Jared Polis calls his proposed spending plan for next year a return to a “normal Colorado budget.”

On Thursday, lawmakers on the state’s powerful Joint Budget Committee got a taste of what that actually means.

Creative solutions to balance the state’s $16 billion general fund. Little margin for error. And rising concern about what programs the state can afford in the future, as federal pandemic relief dollars dry up and lawmakers try to keep their promise to fully fund Colorado’s school finance obligations.

Legislative budget staff on Thursday presented the budget-writing committee with their independent assessment of Polis’ proposal, which he released earlier this month.

One troubling takeaway: If Legislative Council Staff forecasts are correct, the…