Responsible Steward of State Funds
The Office of the State Public Defender (OSPD) is funded through the Colorado State Legislature in the state’s annual “Long Bill”, the funding bill for all of Colorado State government. The bill is required to pass both chambers of the Colorado legislature and signed into law by the Governor. This usually happens in during April and May of each year.
The fiscal year for Colorado State government begins on July 1. All state agency budget requests for the upcoming fiscal year must be submitted by the November 1 of the preceding year. OSPD has a long history of presenting the Joint Budget Committee with data-driven annual budget request with a focus on the many dynamic factors that are expanding defender workload.
OSPD budget is prepared and administered by the State Administrative Office. All expenses are managed and approved through this office
For more information on the budget, see the links below.
- Fiscal Year 2024-25 OSPD Budget Submission
- Fiscal Year 2023-24 OSPD Budget Submission
- Fiscal Year 2022-23 OSPD Budget Submission
- Fiscal Year 2021-22 OSPD Budget Submission
In response to requests by certain legislators, OSPD biannually prepares and publishes a staffing and salary comparison report between OSPD and the District Attorney’s Office in all 22 Judicial Districts throughout the state.
The reports demonstrates, with data received directly from each individual office, what the staffing and salaries are for both prosecutors and defenders across Colorado.