Proposed sales tax hike to help disabled shelved

April M. Washington, Rocky Mountain News

Published October 24, 2007 at midnight

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Rep. Michael Garcia backed away today from a plan to ask Colorado voters next year to approve a 17 percent state sales tax hike to provide long-term care to nearly 4,000 people with developmental disabilities languishing on a waiting list.

The Aurora Democrat yanked a bill that would have raised the current state sales tax of 2.9 percent to 3.4 percent. He said he wasn't giving up on the idea but needed to retool the bill.

The move stunned parents and nonprofits who urged lawmakers during testimony to place a sales tax measure on the 2008 ballot, saying it's the only sure way to fund services for children with developmental disabilities.

Garcia said he will likely include the plan in a package of measures next year aimed at reducing the waiting lists.

Garcia said that his bill — viewed by parents and the disabilities community as the cornerstone measure to helping ease the waiting list — needed more work to ensure the legislature doesn't raid the fund to support other programs during lean times.

"I'm not going to give up on the bill," he said. "There are larger mechanical questions that need to be worked out. I didn't feel comfortable moving forward.

"We have 10 legislators much more educated about the problem, and now are willing to move forward on legislation to reduce the waiting lists," Garcia added.

The Committee on Long-Term Care Services and Support for Persons with Developmental Disability voted to advance seven bills to the Legislative Council for consideration.

The committee wrapped up its work today and was forced to vote on all measures on the table.

Parents of children with disabilities and Democratic lawmakers on the committee expressed disappointment that the measure was bagged for the time being.

Rep. John Soper, D-Thornton, called a dedicated sales tax the only real solution to reducing the backlog.

"I know getting a sales tax increase approved is an uphill battle," he said. "But the voters deserve a chance to decide on whether to do something to help these families. This should not be the last discussion on this bill."

The panel approved a Republican measure that calls for setting aside 2 percent of general fund increases to reduce the waiting list. The plan would raise $8.4 million the first year.

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