DENVER ( KDVR ) — The Denver City Council is proposing a bill that would let voters decide if the city should raise its sales tax by 0.34%.
The proposal would help Denver Health cover costs for patients who cannot pay bills, largely due to a lack of health insurance, officials said.
Denver Health estimated there were $140 million in unpaid medical bills in 2023 and said it can’t maintain its current cost of care without a solution. Officials said, along with population growth, one of the problems is that city funding specifically set aside for unpaid medical bills has not increased in 15 years.
Lakewood police use drone to save an intoxicated teen’s life
Some council members expressed concern that if the proposal passed, Denver would have the 11th-highest sales tax in the state.
If the proposal passes out of the city council, Denver voters would have the final say on the November ballot.
Monday night’s meeting will be the first reading of the bill. The council will make its final vote on June 24.