Oral arguments are complete, and the Colorado Supreme Court justices are now tasked with deciding the fate of funding K-12 education in our state as they deliberate and prepare to rule on Lobato v. the State of Colorado.

What is at stake? As much as $4 billion new dollars each year should the court agree that the state is not meeting its constitutional obligation to provide a "thorough and uniform" system of education to all Colorado children.

Should the state's high court side with the plaintiffs, how would we get there? Two options come to mind: Allocate what could amount to 89 percent of the state's General Fund to the K-12 system, or ask Colorado voters to increase their taxes by as much as 50 percent. Either solution is not only unlikely, they are untenable.  

Reallocating the General Fund would require that other areas key to our state's economic competitiveness, higher education and infrastructure - which already have been greatly impacted due to the recent economic climate and mandated spending limits in Colorado's Constitution - would cease to be financed through state resources, as those dollars would no longer be available.

A doubling of Coloradans' current tax burden also comes with risk. Such a sizeable increase may have negative impacts on efforts to retain current employers or recruit new business to our state. Or, voters may simply say "no" to such a request, as they have the ultimate power around tax measures when they cast their vote at the ballot box.  

Exactly when the court will rule on the case is not known, but you can be assured we will be strategizing about what the decision means and how it will impact our state going forward - regardless of who prevails.

Should you have thoughts about the Lobato case, or any other measure currently under consideration in Colorado, please do not hesitate to contact me at tamra@coloradoconcern.com.  We look forward to seeing you this Wednesday at our annual luncheon with Governor Hickenlooper.

Budgets/Sequestration

Economists were opposed to automatic spending cuts

Denver Post: March 4

Spending cuts seem here to state

Denver Post: March 4

Consequences to cuts no one thought would happen

Denver Post: March 4

How budget cuts might affect small businesses

Denver Post: March 4

Divided and conflicted over the federal deficit

Denver Post: March 4

Obama, Republicans cooperate on spending - for now

Denver Post: March 6

Thomas: Live, from Sequesterville

Denver Post: March 8

Economy/Economic Development

Colorado should emulate Canadian entrepreneurship effort

Denver Post: March 4

Site Selection magazine likes (not loves) Colorado

Denver Business Journal: March 5

Aurora incentives keep security company in town

Denver Business Journal: March 5

Denver Mayor Hancock seeks $70 million for new downtown development

Denver Post: March 6

Colorado business conditions index hits 6-month high; housing rebound cited

Denver Business Journal: March 6

Home prices in Denver area continue to climb as inventory falls

Denver Post: March 6

Colorado launching state venture fund for startups

Denver Business Journal: March 7

Beige Book: Fed sees modest improvement in Colorado-area economy

Denver Business Journal: March 7

Education

Colorado college chiefs oppose four-year degrees in community colleges

Denver Post: March 4

CU, CSU wish list includes 9 percent tuition hikes for you

Denver Post: March 4

Barnes-Gelt: A few words of advice for DPS

Denver Post: March 4

Immigrant tuition bill expected to pass Colorado State House after failing there in the past

The Denver Channel: March 5

Colorado House gives initial approval to in-state tuition for illegal immigrants

Denver Post: March 6

Adams State University seeking 16 percent boost in tuition rate

Denver Post: March 7

Colorado Supreme Court to hear historic school-funding case

Denver Post: March 7

Colorado Supreme Court justices offer strong reactions in Lobato case

Denver Post: March 8

Elections/Politics

Ethics commission agrees to seek outside investigator in Gessler case

Denver Post: March 5

Colorado business battles bills it considers bad for companies

Denver Business Journal: March 8

Energy

Oil companies chipping in for road work in Colorado

Denver Post: March 4

Carroll: Colorado's stake in gas exports

Denver Post: March 4

Colorado House committee kills bill shifting utility regulation

Denver Post: March 5

Hickenlooper is right when it comes to oil and gas

Denver Post: March 5

Threat of Colorado lawsuit looms as fracking ban OK'd in Fort Collins

Denver Post: March 6

Hickenlooper to head delegation to Canada; energy a focus

Denver Business Journal: March 6

Hickenlooper against Thompson Divide drilling

Denver Business Journal: March 7

Xcel to spend $450,000 on community projects in pollution settlement

Denver Post: March 8

Democrats to propose environmental protection near drilling sites

Denver Business Journal: March 8

General Business

7 gun-related measures considered in Colorado

9NEWS: March 4

Colorado, pot panel was up to the task

Denver Post: March 4

Colorado medical-marijuana businesses have declined by 40 percent

Denver Post: March 4

Colorado among 10 best states for banking

Denver Business Journal: March 5

Patent judges begin work in new Denver office today

Denver Business Journal: March 5

Ex-DEA heads: Feds should nullify state pot laws

Denver Post: March 5

Wash and Colo. 'potrepreneurs' see opportunity

Denver Post: March 6

Colorado Legislature Considering Cow Tail Cutting Ban, Upsets Some Farmers

Denver Post: March 6

Let states set their own pot policies

Denver Post: March 7

Fortune names 6 Colorado companies among world's most admired

Denver Business Journal: March 7

Colorado creates special legislative pot committee

Denver Post: March 8

The real winner of Denver's Restaurant Week: not the restaurants

Denver Post: March 8

Health Care

"Biosimilars" bill may face tougher time in Colorado Senate

Denver Business Journal: March 8

Labor/Employment

Most Denver workers commute alone in their cars

Denver Post: March 6

5-year contract gives RTD workers bonuses, and wage and benefit hikes

Denver Post: March 7

Telecommunications

AT&T invested nearly $350 million in Denver area from 2010 through 2012 to enhance speeds, reliability and performance for customers

Market Watch: March 4

EAGLE-Net broadband project in Steamboat Springs struggles to launch

Denver Post: March 4

EAGLE-Net broadband project could have suspension lited in a month

Denver Post: March 8

CenturyLink promotes new Denver leader

Denver Business Journal: March 8

Taxes

Party may (finally) be over for the online sales tax loophole

Denver Business Journal: March 4

Lawmakers make changes that help advance social media, tax break bills

Denver Business Journal: March 5

Marijuana task force's No. 1 topic is taxing issue

Denver Business Journal: March 6

Water/Environment

Army Corps to decide next year on Denver Water expansion

Denver Business Journal: March 5

Sides switch over Colorado benefit-corporations bill

Denver Business Journal: March 8