The General Assembly will begin debate this week on a $46.8 billion budget package for the next fiscal year that is marked more by cuts than spending.

State of play: The powerful Joint Budget Committee, which drafts the budget package, worked to the last minute to find new revenue and reduce spending to fill a $1.5 billion shortfall.

• No areas emerged unscathed, with reductions in health care, education, public safety and environmental protections.

What they're saying: "These are a lot of very, very painful cuts, cuts that we didn't want to have to make," state Rep. Emily Sirota (D-Denver) told her colleagues Tuesday.

By the numbers: Here's what to know about the spending proposal that would start July 1.

💰 $46.8 billion: The total size of the state budget, including federal and state dollars.

📈 $17.3 billion: Total discretionary spending — mostly corporate and personal income taxes — in what's known as the general fund.

• It represents a $212 million, or 1.2%, increase from the prior year.

📉 13%: The size of the budget reserve — often called the rainy day fund. At the urging of Gov. Polis, lawmakers lowered the savings account from its current 15% level to allow more spending in the current and next fiscal year.

🏥 $6 billion: The total increase in spending for the Health Care Policy and Financing agency for the next fiscal year to cover rising Medicaid costs.

• Due largely to rising caseloads, the state added $213 million in discretionary spending, a 4% increase over the current year.

💸 $300 million: The decrease in refunds the state must pay out under the Taxpayer's Bill of Rights in the 2028 calendar year. Instead, lawmakers spent the money on other priorities.

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To address rising inmate populations, Colorado is preparing to spend more than $26 million in next year's budget on additional prison capacity.

Why it matters: The money is making it harder for state lawmakers to balance a budget with a $1.5 billion shortfall.

• The trend also infuriates progressive Democrats who are working to reduce incarceration rates.

Driving the news: In the $46.8 billion budget package introduced this week, lawmakers earmarked:

• $13 million for an additional 941 prison beds, including 153 at private facilities
• $11.5 million to increase payments to private prison operators, such as CoreCivic
• $1.9 million to pay local jails to hold state inmates

The intrigue: The uptick in the prison population comes as Colorado sees declining crime rates and increasing numbers of inmates who are eligible for parole but not yet released.

The Polis administration is taking the brunt of the criticism about the contradiction.

• Earlier this year, Axios Denver reported that the overall increase stems in part from a change in how the Department of Corrections enforces parole violations.
• More recently, Gov. Polis asked lawmakers to immediately open a new prison at a cost of roughly $200 million.

Yes, but: Democratic lawmakers balked at the idea and opted instead to pay private prisons to house more of the state's inmates.

What we're watching: Democratic lawmakers are preparing legislation to address how the prison population is managed by the state, but it's a long-running debate that is so far without a solution.

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Denver Sheriff Elias Diggins says a newly approved collective bargaining agreement will help recruit new deputies and retain more staff.

Why it matters: The department is only about 65% staffed — just under 600 deputies — as Diggins works to rebuild the ranks.

• The raises come after last year's layoffs.

Driving the news: The Denver City Council approved a contract between the city and the union representing deputies Monday.

• The agreement provides 4% raises for deputies, retroactive to Jan. 1, according to city documents.
• It also adds $100 a month specialty pay for sheriffs on horseback, two additional funeral leave days and more shirts for new deputies.

By the numbers: Base pay now starts at $76,809 and tops out at $107,031 annually for sheriff's deputies, Diggins tells us.

The intrigue: Retirements are expected to slow this year after an uptick over the past two years, meaning recruitment could outpace attrition, Diggins adds.

• The union did not respond to multiple requests for comment.

What's next: A new sheriff's deputy class is expected to graduate in May.

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❄️ One of the strongest El Niño's ever recorded could bring significant weather to Colorado next winter, potentially boosting the state's snowpack. (9News)

👀 The lake at Huston Lake Park in southwest Denver is completely dry, with many neighbors saying it's the first time they've seen it without any water. (FOX31)

🍔 Whataburger is eyeing a Castle Rock location for its return to the metro area. A land use application is pending approval. (Denver Post 🔑)

👎 Lakewood residents overwhelmingly voted last night to repeal the city's new housing density laws that would have allowed multi-family buildings in more neighborhoods. (Denverite)

Three things in life are just about certain: Death, taxes and the University of Denver Pioneers making the Frozen Four.

The big picture: The Pios are in the final four of men's NCAA hockey for the third consecutive season.

• DU faces the University of Michigan at 6:30pm tomorrow at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas on ESPN2.

Why it matters: It's a matchup pitting two of the sport's best teams.

State of play: Before Denver (27-11-3) can seek its 11th national title, it must stop the No.1-seeded Michigan Wolverines (31-7-1), who are chasing a 10th national crown to tie DU's record tally.

Between the lines: DU junior defenseman Eric Pohlkamp — a Hobey Baker award finalist — leads the team in scoring with 18 goals, while freshman forward Clarke Caswell has tallied a team-high 25 assists this season.

• Goaltender Johnny Hicks has posted a remarkable 14-0-1 record. The undersized freshman leads the NCAA with a 1.12 goals-against average.