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Amendment 51:
Sales Tax Increase for Services for People with Developmental Disabilities




Summary

Colorado currently provides services for persons with developmental disabilities like autism, Down syndrome, cerebral palsy and other disabilities. However, there is a long waiting time, up to 10 to 15 years, for disabled persons to access these services for benefits such as job training and 24-hour supervision and assistance at group homes. There are approximately 9,700 adults and children currently on these waiting lists; this number is expected to grow to 12,000 by 2012.

Amendment 51 would permanently raise sales taxes by 2 cents on every $10 purchase to help pay for these services and is predicted to help eliminate the long waiting lists for services. The Colorado Legislative Council estimates that a three-person household with about $55,000 in income would pay about $20 in additional taxes in the first year, and about $40 in additional taxes thereafter.


Position:  Neutral
Provided by: Legislative Council of the Colorado General Assembly
Amendment 51 proposes amending the Colorado statutes to:

  • increase the state sales and use tax from 2.9 percent to 3.0 percent on July 1, 2009, and from 3.0 percent to 3.1 percent on July 1, 2010;
  • direct that the new money be used to pay for services for people with developmental disabilities and to help eliminate the waiting lists for services;
  • prohibit the legislature from reducing the current level of state funding for services for people with developmental disabilities; and
  • exempt the new money from state spending limits.

Vote NO on Amendment 51 if:
  • You believe that raising the sales tax may hurt the State’s economy at a time the economy is already struggling. Amendment 51 permanently raises taxes without any discussion on how the money can be spent most effectively, or how the needs of people with developmental disabilities compare with other needs in the state. The new tax dollars must be spent on services for people with developmental disabilities even if the amount raised exceeds funding needs. Vote no if you  believe this issue would be better addressed by the state legislature instead of a permanent Constitutional amendment.

Vote YES on Amendment 51 if:
  • You are willing to pay more taxes to benefit persons with developmental disabilities through better services and a shorter waiting list. The tax increase does not apply to basic purchases such as food, prescription drugs, utilities and gasoline. The families of many of these disabled citizens are not able to fund these services themselves. Vote yes if you believe the state has a responsibility to its citizens with developmental disabilities to help them be as productive and safe as possible. Current dollars allocated by the state to pay for these services have been inadequate, resulting in unconscionable wait times for these services.




RMFC position:
VOTE XX
Vote NO
RMFC position:
Neutral