DENVER-
Colorado officials plan to appeal a decision that it must repay $11.2 million in food stamp benefits to the U.S. Agriculture Department.
The federal government contends the state incorrectly made the overpayments because of errors generated by Colorado’s centralized computer benefits management network, which was plagued by problems after it came online in September 2004.
Colorado officials questioned the USDA’s analysis that led to that number. A federal board of appeals sent a letter to state officials last week rejecting Colorado’s assertion that the benefit system was so complicated that it confused federal regulators and caused them to miscalculate the overpayments.
“We are deeply disappointed with the ruling and plan to take this to the U.S. District Court,” said Liz McDonough, spokeswoman for the Colorado Department of Human Services, which oversees CBMS.
The case was argued in February before the USDA State Food Stamps Appeals Board.
