Gov. Hickenlooper signs Colorado budget

Gov. John Hickenlooper has signed next year’s Colorado budget, which takes effect July 1.

The budget for the 2014-2015 fiscal year increases funding for public schools to keep up with enrollment and inflation, and adds an extra $100 million for colleges to limit tuition increases.

The proposed budget is larger than the current budget year, but not by much. The budget for the current fiscal year, which ends June 30, is about $21 billion. Next year, it will be about $23 billion. That figure includes federal money and other funds that lawmakers don’t control.

The general-fund budget, which is made up of tax revenue controlled by lawmakers, is about $8.7 billion next year.

The spending plan also funds an aerial firefighting fleet.

Hickenlooper signed the budget Wednesday afternoon.