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Coalition seeks 0.25% sales tax to fund regional early‑childhood services
Summary
The Confluence Early Childhood Education Coalition asked Aspen City Council to support placing a regional early‑childhood special tax district on the November ballot. Presenters said a 0.25% sales tax (exempting essentials) would raise an estimated $10 million a year to fund tuition assistance, provider grants and wage enhancements.
Maggie Tuscornia, director of the Confluence Early Childhood Education Coalition, told the council the proposal would create an early‑childhood special tax district stretching from Aspen to Parachute and “We would be the 1st such district in the state of Colorado.” The coalition’s service plan would focus on tuition assistance, grants to increase slots and quality improvements, outreach and program evaluation.
Hannah Berman, on the AspenOne sustainability team, described employers’ interest in the measure as workforce support and said the coalition had gathered signatures and filed with the district court on July 7 to place the question on the November ballot. Tuscornia said the plan proposes a 0.25% sales tax that “would raise an estimated $10,000,000 annually,” excluding groceries and other essentials, and that a five‑member elected board would govern distribution across Garfield, Pitkin and the southwest portion of Eagle County. Council members asked about candidate filing, deadlines and how funds would stack with existing programs such as Kids 1st and CCAP; presenters said candidates self‑nominate with the designated election official and that the plan is designed to stack with current programs and use a sliding scale to channel more support to lower‑income families.
