IDAHO SPRINGS — Kicking off a series of planned town halls here Thursday, Gov. Bill Ritter told a crowd that included many concerned county employees that the budget crisis would undoubtedly worsen next year due to lagging revenue, but that he was confident his focus on building a New Energy Economy in the state would generate industry and jobs in a future-directed, "truly 21st century way." This is about "securing quality of life for generations," he said.