Funds allocated to implement the law were calculated on the belief that only about half of the estimated 150,000 immigrants seeking the licenses would apply in the program's first three years, according to a state fiscal report written in 2013 to determine the program's funding.
"We just didn't think demand was going to be this high," said Chris Ward, fiscal note manager for the nonpartisan Colorado Legislative Council.
The new law has come under intense scrutiny from immigrants and advocacy groups who say the program is underfunded and lacking in necessary resources. However, observers say fixes are not likely to come anytime soon — at the earliest during the 2015 legislative session — and that Colorado's politicians are unlikely to tackle the issue because of the controversy surrounding immigration.
Only five of the state's 56 licensing centers are offering appointments for applicants seeking the licenses, allotting 155 slots each day.
"We were providing the best estimate we could when the legislature needed it," Ward said, adding that the underestimation "would definitely affect the funding."
