2021 Research | Common Sense Institute

Colorado Budget: Then and Now

Dec 6, 2022 | 2019 Research, 2020 Research, 2021 Research, 2022 Research, Featured Research, Recent Research, Research, State Budget

Colorado Budget Then and Now illuminates the meaningful changes in Colorado state spending over the last twenty years. The following figures provide a summary overview of state spending across different state funds and agencies. The trends shown reflect the shifting priorities brought on as a direct result of the laws and budgets passed each legislative session.

Colorado Jobs and Labor Force Update: December 2021

Jan 25, 2022 | 2021 Research, 2022 Research, Featured Research, Job Reports, Jobs & Our Economy, Recent Research, Research

Colorado added 9,000 jobs in December and November jobs were revised upwards by 5,000. The combined growth over the last two months of 2021 of 23,100 jobs presents a stark contrast to the prior year, when the two months combined for 25,500 job losses.

2021 Annual Report

Jan 20, 2022 | 2021 Research, Annual Reports, Featured Research, Recent Research

As we close the door on 2021 and look to the future, the answer to our ongoing economic challenges remains the same: embrace the free enterprise system.

Colorado Jobs and Labor Force Update: November 2021

Dec 17, 2021 | 2021 Research, Featured Research, Job Reports, Jobs & Our Economy, Recent Research, Research

Despite concerns of rising inflation and a new COVID-19 variant, November job growth in Colorado remained relatively strong at 9,800 jobs. This is above the monthly average job growth needed to fully recover to a pre-pandemic employment-to-population ratio by 2023.

Colorado’s Free Enterprise Report – 2022 Edition

Dec 13, 2021 | 2021 Research, Featured Research, Research

CSI’s first annual review of the state of free enterprise in Colorado and how it may be impacted by broader policy trends.

Inflation in Colorado – November 2021

Dec 10, 2021 | 2021 Research, Featured Research, Inflation Reports, Jobs & Our Economy, Recent Research

In the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic and trillions of dollars of pandemic relief spending by the federal government, the rate of inflation in the U.S. has grown sharply in 2021 and become one of the most-discussed economic issues of the day. High inflation levels erode savings and increase the costs of daily commutes, groceries, and other consumer goods.

The Colorado Crime Wave: An Economic Analysis of Crime and the Need for Data Driven Solutions

Dec 9, 2021 | 2021 Research, Featured Research, Housing & Our Community, Recent Research

The total cost of crime in Colorado exceeded $27 billion in 2020. While costs are disproportionately felt by victims, this implies an average cost per Coloradan of $4,762 per year. The 2021 costs will grow, as the violent crime rate is on pace to be the highest since 1994, a 10% annual increase.

Colorado Jobs and Labor Force Update: October 2021

Nov 19, 2021 | 2021 Research, Featured Research, Job Reports, Jobs & Our Economy, Recent Research, Research

Driven by labor shortages and increased employment opportunities, job growth in October surged to its highest monthly amount since July. Labor force participation of mothers during the pandemic lagged consistently up until September. Their overall participation rate in October remained higher than pre-pandemic levels for the second straight month.

The Economic Footprint of Homelessness in Metro Denver

Nov 4, 2021 | 2021 Research, Featured Research, Housing & Our Community, Recent Research, Research

Common Sense Institute has partnered with several local organizations and leaders to conduct a three-phase project to understand the many challenges and types of homelessness. This is Phase one of this project and is focused on the current resources dedicated to the homeless in Metro Denver.

Homelessness Ecosystem Analysis Phase 2

Oct 22, 2021 | 2021 Research, Featured Research, Housing & Our Community, Recent Research, Research

Homelessness is a visible outcome of a system that does not consistently work for everyone. This report is the result of efforts to understand the systemic factors that impact homelessness in the Metropolitan Denver area through a human-centered systems design lens.

Colorado Jobs and Labor Force Update: September 2021

Oct 22, 2021 | 2021 Research, Featured Research, Job Reports, Jobs & Our Economy, Recent Research, Research

Although September job growth was lower than what is needed to achieve a full recovery by January 2023, adjusted for population growth, Colorado reached an important recovery milestone last month. For the first time since the start of the pandemic, the labor force participation rate for Colorado mothers exceeded its pre-pandemic level.

Potential Reach of Proposition 119 “The Learning Enrichment and Academic Progress Program (LEAP)”

Oct 19, 2021 | 2021 Research, Education, Featured Research, Recent Research, Research

Proposition 119 on the 2021 Colorado ballot proposes to establish the Learning Enrichment and Academic Progress Program (LEAP).

Are Denver Taxes Too High? The Fiscal Impacts of Ordinance 304 “Enough Taxes Already”

Oct 12, 2021 | 2021 Research, Featured Research, Recent Research, Taxes & Fees

Ordinance 304 or the “Enough Taxes Already” ballot initiative proposes to cut the City of Denver’s sales tax from 4.81% to 4.5% and impose a cap at the latter rate.

Proposition 120: What Voters See, May Not Be What Voters Get

Oct 5, 2021 | 2021 Research, Featured Research, Jobs & Our Economy, Recent Research, Taxes & Fees

Proposition 120 – “Property Tax Assessment Rate Reduction” proposes to permanently reduce the statewide property tax assessment rate for several classes of property.

Dollars and Data 2021

Sep 29, 2021 | 2021 Research, Education, Featured Research, Recent Research, Research

If Colorado is to have a substantive public discourse about how to improve educational outcomes, there needs to be a common understanding of how K-12 public education is funded in the state. This study analyzes statewide and regional trends in K-12 revenues and spending over the past decade to help ground conversations in facts.

Colorado Jobs and Labor Force Update: August 2021

Sep 17, 2021 | 2021 Research, Featured Research, Job Reports, Jobs & Our Economy, Recent Research, Research

In April 2020, Colorado lost over 360,000 jobs, experienced the worst month of economic performance in its history, and launched into a deep and abiding recession. A little over a year later, the latest data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) show that, though Colorado’s workforce has already endured the worst of the recession and is ahead of pace to recover fully by 2023, much progress remains to be made.

Homelessness Issues on the Denver 2021 Ballot: Ordinance 303 and Referred Question 2B

Sep 14, 2021 | 2021 Research, Featured Research, Housing & Our Community, Jobs & Our Economy, Recent Research

This November, Denver voters face two ballot measures related to homelessness: Initiated Ordinance 303: “Let’s Do Better” and Referred Question 2B: Denver Housing and Sheltering System Bonds as part of the RISE GO Bond.

Colorado Jobs and Labor Force Update: July 2021

Aug 20, 2021 | 2021 Research, Featured Research, Job Reports, Jobs & Our Economy, Recent Research

The latest Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) jobs and labor force data shows that, while the state has made significant progress from the April 2020 low points, achieving full recovery will take significantly more time.

Colorado Jobs and Labor Force Update: June 2021

Jul 16, 2021 | 2021 Research, Featured Research, Job Reports, Jobs & Our Economy, Research

The latest data from the Current Employment Statistics survey shows that, though Colorado’s workforce has been on its way to recovering from the worst of the recession over the past several months, a lot of progress remains to be made.

The Steep Price Tag of the 2021 Legislative Session:

Jul 13, 2021 | 2021 Research, Featured Research, Jobs & Our Economy, Recent Research, Research, Taxes & Fees

Common Sense Institute analyzes the taxes and fees that resulted from the 2021 legislative session. Under the additional impact of this year’s legislative action, the total net direct cost of rules and legislation passed since 2018 is now over $2.1 billion.

2021 Six Month Impact Report

Jul 7, 2021 | 2021 Research, Annual Reports, Featured Research, Recent Research, Research

Six months into 2021, CSI has made many achievements post COVID-19.

From Conflict to Compassion: A Colorado Housing Development Blueprint For Transformational Change

Jun 24, 2021 | 2021 Research, Featured Research, Housing & Our Community, Recent Research

Transformational changes require bold action from our state’s housing leaders to repair the broken housing development value chain.

Colorado Jobs and Labor Force Update: May 2021

Jun 18, 2021 | 2021 Research, Featured Research, Job Reports, Jobs & Our Economy, Recent Research

The latest data from the Current Employment Statistics survey shows that, though Colorado’s workforce has been on its way to recovering from the worst of the recession over the past several months, a lot of progress remains to be made.

$2.5 Billion in COVID-19 Federal Relief Funding to Colorado’s K-12 Education System

Jun 16, 2021 | 2021 Research, Education, Featured Research, Recent Research

The federal government has sent over $2.5 billion to Colorado’s K-12 education system since the COVID-19 pandemic hit in March 2020. Common Sense Institute analyzes where these funds have been spent and how they compare to current budgets.

The Evolution of the Colorado Public Option: CSI Impacting the Debate

Jun 11, 2021 | 2019 Research, 2020 Research, 2021 Research, Featured Research, Healthcare, Recent Research

After publishing 8 reports, 3 rounds of testimony, and over a dozen meetings with legislators, Common Sense Institute’s work has led the way in helping impact the debate and deliver the facts on the Colorado public option health care proposal…leading to lots of changes.