Polis talks transportation, healthcare with Colorado county leaders

In 43 days, Jared Polis will be sworn in as Colorado’s next governor.

The election was just three weeks ago, but Polis is already making appearances across the state and preparing for his next job.

Including stopping by the Colorado Counties Inc. Winter Conference and addressing big issues.

One of the topics he discussed was transportation, recognizing some of the people at the conference took action on state-funded roads, like the El Paso County Board of County Commissioners did with the gap.

With road funding propositions 109 & 110 both failing in the election, Polis said it’s time to reach across the aisle for another solution.

“I think what we have to have now is a broad stakeholder discussion including with county officials, who I’m meeting with here in El Paso County today, with business leaders, municipal officials really from across Colorado to figure out the path forward,” Polis said.

El Paso County Commissioner Stan VanderWerf agrees a bi-partisan, state solution needs to be sought.

“I think it’s not an issue of whether the state has enough money in its budget, I think it’s really an issue of prioritization,” VanderWerf said.

Polis adds he wants to cut state income taxes by three to five percent.

“Going after tax expenditures reducing special interest tax giveaways and loopholes and using the proceeds to reduce the state income tax,” Polis said.

Polis believes there will still be money left over to implement ideas like free full-day kindergarten, reducing health care costs and transportation issues.

As for the main thing, Polis is working on before taking the governor’s seat, Polis said he’s currently in the process of recruiting people to apply for his cabinet. Those cabinet positions will need to be filled by the time he’s sworn in.