Colorado commission approves search for contractor for economic study
History Colorado reported nearly $1.3 million in cash received and an estimated $215,000 funding gap after outstanding pledges are counted.
The Colorado General Assembly’s Black Coloradan Racial Equity Study Commission approved issuing a request for qualifications to hire an outside contractor for an economic analysis and the commission’s final report. At its Sept. 30 meeting, the commission approved the request without objection. The chair said it was scheduled to be posted on the General Assembly website Oct. 1, the meeting recording shows.
History Colorado reported just under $1.3 million in cash received as of Sept. 20. Its budget director estimated a roughly $75,000 shortfall for the historical research, which could fall to about $15,000 if a $60,000 pledge arrived. A separate $100,000 pledge for the economic analysis was also outstanding. Counting both pledges, the director estimated a combined funding gap of about $215,000. The pledges had not been received as of the meeting and were not counted as revenue.
The economic analysis had previously been estimated at $300,000 in the law’s fiscal note, but staff said the actual cost would depend on responses to the request. The budget director said he believed funding would need to reach the study fund by the end of December for the economic work to advance.
At the commission’s Aug. 19 meeting, members discussed a draft request, with responses tentatively expected in late October and contractor selection targeted for early January, according to the meeting recording.
The 2024 law directs the commission to complete the studies without additional General Fund money and submit a final report with findings and recommendations, as the legislation provides. History Colorado schedules the historical research for completion in March 2027 and the economic analysis in September 2027, as part of the work informing the commission’s final report.