What’s at stake?
-- Senior citizens
Lessons from Colorado
Here are examples of some of the harmful effects Colorado's
version of CI-97 (SOS), called TABOR, has had on seniors in
Colorado:
Thousands of Colorado seniors lost their property
tax exemptions.
State park passes for seniors increased from
$10 to $27.
Colorado ranks 49th in the nation for Medicaid
coverage with one of the most restrictive programs in the
country. (About 60% of nursing home residents rely on Medicaid
in Montana.) Read more
about Medicaid problems in Colorado.
Medicaid transportation funding was drastically
cut, affecting Senior Resource Center services.
State retirement funds were raided to cover
cuts in services.
Bob Bartholomew, State Director, AARP
Montana:
"CI-97 will be detrimental for aging Montanans. Our state
is the third-fastest aging population, even though our total
population is not growing rapidly. Because of sheer numbers,
the baby boomers will need more services than we have provided
for seniors in the past. This initiative will hamstring our
ability to help these Montanans age with dignity and ensure
essential services like meals on wheels and basic health care."
Mary Williams, AARP Montana Executive
Council:
"Seniors in Colorado paid dearly in higher property taxes,
loss of senior discounts, and fewer senior services. We can't
afford to make the same mistake in Montana."
What's At
Stake:
Senior citizens
Public
health and safety
Local
communities
Jobs and economic
development
K-12 schools
Higher
education
Montana's
most vulnerable citizens
Agriculture |
