DENVER, Colo. -- Gov. John Hickenlooper today signed House Bill 12-1335.

The Long Bill passed through the Colorado Senate and Colorado House of Representatives this year with 86 yes votes and 8 no votes. That's one more yes vote than last year and the fewest number of no votes since 1995.

"The overwhelming legislative approval of the budget shows that Colorado is a place where people get work done, and they get it done collaboratively and pragmatically," Hickenlooper said.

The $7.7 billion General Fund budget for FY 2012-13 represents a 6.4 increase over this year's spending. But Colorado's budget continues to face significant challenges. In spite of inflation and population growth, the General Fund available for expenditure in FY 2012-13 remains essentially flat when compared with FY 2007-08.