Larimer County childcare sales tax goes from failing to passing with help from late voters - Coloradoan

[Thomas Clayton]

Larimer County childcare sales tax goes from failing to passing with help from late voters

Rebecca Powell

Fort Collins Coloradoan

A new sales tax to fund the childcare ecosystem in Larimer County in early results seemed like it didn't have enough support to pass, but late voters gave it new life.

Ballot Issue 1B, which had 51.3% of the votes with 99.5% of them counted, was barely failing with 48.7% support when the very first posting of results came out on election night.

That initial posting included all of the early voters and those who had returned ballots closer to Election Day.

But with each new posting of the night, 1B inched upward, to 49.2%, then 49.5%.

The day after the election, it started to show a majority of support: 50.3%.

The measure asks to create a quarter-cent sales tax, which is 25 cents on a $100 purchase, to address a shortage of childcare programs, while also helping families afford those programs and increasing the wages of childcare workers.

Essential items, like groceries and diapers, would be exempt from the tax.

The tax could be used to:

• Reduce the cost of childcare by providing tuition credits for families, via a sliding scale fee, that could be used at any licensed childcare facility.
• Increase childcare capacity and support the workforce, including via teacher salaries. Providers could improve their classrooms and expand childcare availability; strengthen and retain their workforce; provide professional development; increase compensation; and update their learning materials, according to the ballot language and accompanying resolution.

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The Early Childhood Council of Larimer County would receive 80% of funding to administer the program, and Larimer County would get 20% to build up reserves in case of declining revenue and to hire a staff member liaison.

An annual audit by an independent third party would be required.

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	Tom Clayton  Communication and Media Specialist, Public Affairs
	Commissioners' Office 200 W Oak St, Fort Collins, 80522 | 2nd Floor W: (970) 498-7005  tcla...@larimer.org | www.larimer.org