Gov. Jared Polis Proposes Expanding Benefits To Keep State Employees

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DENVER (CBS4)- Gov. Jared Polis wants to expand the benefits for state workers. He said Colorado needs to in order to retain a talented workforce.

Gov. Jared Polis outlines his budget proposal (credit: CBS)

Police showed off highlights of his new budget on Friday. He wants to expand family and medical leave to eight weeks at a cost of $10 million.

Right now, state workers only get paid for parental leave. If they want to care for a partner or parent, they must take off work unpaid.

Gov. Jared Polis outlines his budget proposal (credit: CBS)

"We feel it's an important tool in attracting and retaining people to work for the state. Again, that's why many, particularly large private sector employers do this, but also many medium-sized ones, the state has a 30,000 person workforce. We are behind on keeping up with benefits that people can get elsewhere," said Polis.

Gov. Jared Polis outlines his budget proposal (credit: CBS)

That's only part of Polis' nearly $35 billion budget. He also wants more money for education, $550 million for transportation, $9 million to close private prisons, and he also wants to increase state reserves.