Child care and preschool give kids the support they need to succeed in school and life. But these programs are too hard to find and too expensive to afford in our mountain community. You can change that - and give every child from Parachute to Aspen a strong start and a bright future – by voting yes on 7A. Measure 7A asks voters in Garfield, Pitkin and SW Eagle counties to approve a new early childhood service district and fund it with a modest sales tax increase – just 25 pennies on a $100 purchase - that will generate roughly $12 million per year to support our local children, families, and teachers. New revenue will be used to: 

• Reduce the cost of care for families with kids from birth to age five,

• Ensure more child care and preschool options are available in our region, and 

• Support early childhood teachers and staff

The high cost of child care and preschool and the lack of availability are challenges that face communities across our region, and ours is a regional economy. Workers regularly cross city and county boundaries as they travel between home and work. By partnering regionally – across Garfield, Pitkin and SW Eagle counties - we can provide access to safe, reliable child care for our kids. This will allow parents to go to work and be productive in their jobs – and that helps local businesses, boosting our regional economy. To administer this new funding across the region, Measure 7A proposes to create an early childhood service district – like a fire or transportation district – with an elected board and accountability provisions to ensure dollars are spent as intended.

Measure 7A funding will make our community a more affordable and welcoming place for families to raise their kids and will help us attract and retain preschool and child care teachers and staff. Money will go to: 

• Reduce the cost of care for families with kids from birth to age five

• Ensure more child care and preschool options are available in our community and 

• Support early childhood teachers and staff

Research has shown that ninety percent (90%) of a child’s brain develops by age five. Children with access to quality child care and preschool programs enter kindergarten prepared to learn, start reading earlier and graduate high school at higher rates, setting them up for success by giving them more opportunities throughout school and life. But right now, only 44% of kids under the age of five in our region have access to a licensed child care spot. Families that can find care are burdened by the expense. With an average cost of nearly $17,000 per year for full time programs, child care can be the largest expense a family faces each month, often costing more than housing or college tuition.

Measure 7A was developed by a group of local parents, children’s advocates, educators, philanthropists and community leaders dedicated to making our community a great place to raise a family. 7A has been endorsed by a wide range of civic leadership organizations, businesses and non-profits, education and health care groups and a bi-partisan group of current and former elected leaders. Visit www.strongstartbrightfuture.com/endorsements to see more.

7A proposes a modest 0.25% sales tax increase – just 25 pennies on a $100 purchase – with everyday necessities, like groceries, gas, medicine and diapers, excluded from the tax. It will be administered through a new service district – like a fire or transportation district – with an elected board and accountability provisions to ensure dollars are spent as intended.