Hello Friends, Family, and Neighbors-
Please take a moment this Memorial Day weekend to remember and honor those who have sacrificed so much for our country. We are forever indebted and honor their memory.
COVID-19 Updates
Graphic sourced from Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment.
* Starting at the beginning of this week, CDPHE is now listing deaths broken up into 2 categories. Deaths among cases is the number of deaths where COVID-19 has been present when the individual died but the death may not have directly been attributed to COVID-19. Deaths due to COVID-19 are the number of deaths where COVID-19 was the cause of death and is listed on the death certificate. To read more about the differences between these two data sets, visit the website here ([link removed]) .
* Governor Polis announced that every Coloradan with COVID-19 symptoms can get tested ([link removed]) .
* CDPHE has also released expanded data sets, including where our hospitals are at in regards to PPE and ventilators, and current number of patients hospitalized due to COVID-19 as well as recently released.

Southern Colorado Updates
The San Luis Valley is at 113 cases with 17 hospitalizations, 43 have completed isolation, and 3 deaths.

Alamosa County- 53
Conejos County- 1
Costilla County- 4
Mineral County- 2
Rio Grande County- 14
Saguache County- 39

Saguache County confirmed their first death due to COVID-19, which brought the total number of deaths in the SLV to 3.

Public health agencies in Saguache and Rio Grande counties are still investigating an outbreak at the Mountain King Spud Growers potato warehouse facility in Center. 25 positive cases are related to this outbreak.

Rio Grande County was approved for a variance ([link removed]) by the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment. Restaurants, gyms, places of worship, and RV parks are permitted to open at 30% occupancy.

Huerfano County has 3 confirmed cases.

Pueblo County has 221 positive and 11 probable cases ([link removed]) and 14 deaths.

There has been a second outbreak at an assisted living facility ([link removed]) in Pueblo at Columbine Chateau in Pueblo West where three residents and one staff member have tested positive for the virus.

Drive-up testing site details:
* Time: 9 a.m. - 3 p.m. weekly on Tuesday to Friday (Until May 29)
* Location: Colorado State Fair Grounds, 1001 Beulah Avenue, enter through Gate 4 off Mesa Avenue and Gaylord Avenue
* Cost: All testing will be free. Insurance will not be required.

Testing is available to anyone exhibiting symptoms.
2020 Census

Please do not forget to fill out your 2020 Census ([link removed]) !

Participation in the census ensures that our state and communities receive a fair cut of the over $1 trillion in Federal funding available. It will help determine whether Colorado will receive an 8th Congressional District, resulting in more representation at the National level.

As a reminder, there is NO citizenship question on the 2020 Census.

You can fill out the 2020 Census online ([link removed]) , by phone ([link removed]) , or by mail ([link removed]) .

Here is where our counties stand on completion rates:

Alamosa County- 50%
Conejos County- 23.9%
Costilla County- 11.9%
Saguache County- 21.6%
Huerfano County- 30.5%
Mineral County- 16.8%
Rio Grande County- 44.4%
Pueblo County- 60.3%

So far, Colorado has a 62.5% response rate.

Make sure you and your family are counted!

State Drought Monitor
State Budget 101

Image sourced from buildingabettercolorado.org

There are three sources of revenue that make up the state's $32 billion budget: General funds (39%), Cash funds (29%), and Federal funds (32%). Both Cash funds and Federal funds are restricted to certain uses.

The Legislature deals with the General Fund, which is revenue collected mostly from state income tax (70%), sales tax (25%). This amounts to about $10-$11 billion in general funds that the legislature designates between the programs outlined in the pie chart through the long bill every year.

This better demonstrates why the $3.3 billion in predicted revenue shortfall have been so devastating. These are all vital programs that provide services that all of us utilize or benefit from. The Joint Budget Committee has been carefully considering recommendations from JBC staff and looking into all options as to how to best balance the budget and cut upwards of 25% from each of these sectors.

Here are some of the cuts the Joint Budget Committee discussed this week:

* The committee voted to suspend the homestead exemption, a move also taken in 2010 during the Great Recession, which will save the state $163.6 million. This exemption is available to seniors 65 and older who have been in their primary residence for over 10 years. Property taxes are waived 50% for the first $200,000 of actual property value. This exemption is also available to disabled veterans, which the JBC discussed trying to keep in tact.
* Higher education funding was cut by 58%, amounting to $493.2 million in savings.
* K-12 Education saw a $448 million cut.
* JBC voted to close the the minimum-security, men's-only Skyline prison in Cañon City, effective January 2021 which will save $1.9 million. La Vista, located on the campus of the Colorado Mental Health Institute, will see its bed capacity reduced by 147 beds saving $788,630.

Governor Polis issued an executive order ([link removed]) that directs $500 million for K-12 education and $450 million for higher education from the Federal money Colorado received in the CARES Act.
Snow Pack Levels
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Our office phone number at the Capitol building is 303-866-2916

As always, feel free to reach out to me with any comments or concerns.

www.ValdezforCO.com ([link removed])

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