The legislative Joint Budget Committee Monday threw a lifeline to six Colorado school districts struggling with cash-flow problems because of proposed Amendment 61, Education News Colorado reports.

The committee approved allocation of $2.9 million in state money to the Department of Education’s contingency fund for use as loans or grants to the districts by the State Board of Education.

The districts – Gunnison, South Routt, Cripple Creek-Victor, Hayden, Westcliffe and Eagle – are caught in a bind both because of the peculiarities of school district revenues and the uncertainties posed by Amendment 61.