A ballot measure proposing a new sales tax in Garfield and Pitkin counties and part of Eagle County to ramp up funding for child care remained en route to victory Wednesday evening. Meanwhile, the election tide turned in Larimer County, where a similar ballot measure that initially appeared headed for defeat made a comeback.
The ballot measure spanning the three mountain counties will allow those parts of the state — from Aspen to Parachute — a shared taxing authority by creating the Confluence Early Childhood Development Special Service District. That will become Colorado’s first Early Childhood Development Special District.
The measure, which will establish a 0.25% sales tax in the region, is projected to generate an estimated $10 million to $12 million, which will offer families child care tuition assistance and fund a grant program to support providers in increasing teacher pay and expanding the number of slots they have for kids.
As of shortly after 6 p.m. Wednesday, ballot measure 7A, which supports early childhood development services, was passing with 59.6% of voters approving it and 40.4% against it, according to unofficial returns.
In Larimer County, the outlook for a ballot measure that also proposes introducing a 0.25% sales tax, looked rosier by late Wednesday. Early returns Tuesday night showed the measure — designed with child care tuition assistance, teacher pay and construction projects in mind — failing by a narrow margin. Unofficial returns Wednesday evening indicated the ballot measure still has a fighting chance, with about 50.3% of taxpayers voting in favor of it and about 49.7% of voters shooting it down.
Should the measure pass, it would give Larimer County about $28.7 million each year.
Counties continued counting votes throughout Wednesday and races for six other ballot measures targeting funding for child care remained too close to call. Those include measures in Chaffee, Custer, Ouray, Eagle, Gilpin and Hinsdale counties.