Legislative News
Senior Voice -Addendum
Upon further investigation, I've learned that the $10 Lifetime Senior Pass to access Colorado State Parks was discontinued in 2003. Since then, the annual senior citizen pass has been half the price of the standard pass. The following options are available for older Coloradans.The Aspen Leaf Pass is an annual pass available to all Coloradans 64 years or older for $30. The Aspen Leaf Free Pass is available to all Colorado Residents born in 1922 or earlier. There are $12.50 annual passes available to disabled Colorado residents and to low-income Colorado residents.
Colorado also provides free access to disabled veterans. You can see the pass options on the Colorado State Parks Website.
However, there is an America the Beautiful National Parks $10 Lifetime Senior Pass, and a senior (64 and older) can get an annual state fishing license for $1. The first link is an overview of Division of Wildlife licenses, and the second one allows yoy to apply online: http://wildlife.state.co.us/ShopDOW/AppsAndLicenses/ and https://www4.wildlifelicense.com/co/start.php
The Senior Voice, October 2009
There are several ways to reduce your property taxes by participating in the senior homestead and disabled veteran property tax exemption program. Those eligible can receive a 50 percent tax reduction up to $200,000 of the home’s value. Unfortunately, the state legislature had to suspend the senior exemption for tax year 2009 while maintaining the disabled veteran exemption. I will strive to restore the senior exemption in the upcoming session.
The Senior Citizens’ Property Tax Work Off Program allows you to temporarily work for the county to reduce your property tax bill up to $400 per household. And the Tax Deferral for the Elderly and Military Personnel program allows seniors and active military personnel to defer property taxes in the form of a lien to be paid upon the sale or changing hands of the residence.
The legislature is also protecting most senior services such as those provided through the Area Agencies on Aging like Meals on Wheels. We continue to provide long-term care for low-income seniors that require nursing home care, and our aim is to keep people in their homes through community based services. In recent years, we have created programs to help seniors access Medicaid Part D; locate people with Alzheimer’s who have gone missing; streamline eligibility for Medicaid; lower prescription drug costs; and fund free fishing licenses. Seniors can use all of Colorado’s state parks with a $10 lifetime pass, and they can ride public transportation for free or at reduced rates.
We keep utility costs affordable for seniors through LEAP and Energy Outreach Colorado to help keep the heat on during the winter. There is also assistance to weatherize your home and save on energy bills.
Feel free to contact me with questions or concerns.
Phone 970- 221-1135; email
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This article first appeared as an Op-Ed piece in the October 2009 issue of The Senior Voice
More Colorado Children Living in Poverty - Denver Post
Colorado's number of children living in poverty grew 73 percent from 2000 to 2006 — the nation's highest rate of growth, according to the Colorado Children's Campaign.
The percentage of Colorado kids in poverty grew from 11.3 percent in 2000 to 15 percent in 2008, according to U.S. census data reported last month.
Colorado is by no means home to the most poor kids. The national average last year was 18.3 percent of children living in poverty, the Colorado Children's Campaign said.
To read the rest of this article, as it was published in the Denver Post on 10/18/09 please visit this link.
