Arapahoe County commissioners talk progress, pending shortfall at annual summit - Sentinel Colorado (2024)

AURORA | Commissioners recapped a year of tackling the economic and social problems facing Arapahoe County, and explained the reasons for a tax question that could appear on the November ballot at their annual State of the County summit Thursday.

“Elected officials have been hitting the pavement the past few months talking about a significant budget shortfall,” Commissioner and chairperson Carrie Warren-Gully told a packed exhibition hall at the county fairgrounds in Aurora.

“It is the elephant in the room that we kept referencing and you all have heard us talk about. … Arapahoe County is facing a choice, and we’re asking residents and stakeholders for your input.”

During the June 6 event, commissioners were mostly optimistic about how the county is adapting to the expectations of the public, including ramping up the work of the Arapahoe County Public Health Department following the demise of Tri-County at the end of 2022.

Warren-Gully spoke about how county health workers have successfully managed an outbreak of meningococcal bacterial infections, started inspections of daycares and other public facilities, and stepped up outreach to individuals addicted to drugs.

She and commissioner Jeff Baker also highlighted the county’s partnerships with cities and other agencies to bring affordable housing developments — such as Overlook at Powers Park in Littleton, a supportive housing complex at Aurora Mental Health and Recovery’s new Acute Care Campus and the Bonsai Flats apartments in Sheridan — to fruition.

Baker described the Arapahoe County Open Spaces Department as a “shining star” within the administration of the county. He mentioned how Arapahoe recently marked the 20th anniversary of the voter-approved sales tax that has helped fund the preservation of 32,000 acres of open space as well as the construction and improvement of about 70 miles of trails.

“Our residents absolutely love our parks, trails and open spaces,” Baker said. “They know that these assets contribute to their quality of life and their health. The program has deep roots throughout the county.”

Commissioner Bill Holen of Aurora alluded to a “special announcement” coming in a few weeks concerning steps taken to ensure the High Line Canal trail network continues to be walkable and open to the public moving forward.

Holen and others also talked about how the county used federal COVID-19 relief funds to support businesses and residents during the pandemic, including through grants, rent assistance and programs meant to reduce homelessness.

The imminent depletion of those funds is one of the forces driving the budget shortfall of more than $35 million that is expected to hit county coffers in 2025.

Other factors mentioned by commissioners include the limits on property tax collection imposed by the so-called state Taxpayer Bill of Rights and residents’ expectations for services increasing along with the cost of doing business.

In addition to immediate cuts that Arapahoe County would need to make if it is unable to find another source of revenue, the county faces an infrastructure backlog of more than $316 million, including the funding needed to rehabilitate the 41% of county roads that were found last year to be in “poor” or “very poor” condition.

Commissioner Jessica Campbell said 2025 could see $12 million subtracted from the budget of the Arapahoe County Sheriff’s Office along with $3.7 million from Public Works and $4.7 million collectively from the Human Services, Public Health and Community Resources departments. Support for local nonprofit groups might also be cut.

“Those cuts would affect domestic violence support, food assistance, mental and behavioral health programs, substance abuse treatment and more,” she said. “And it would also likely need a decrease in our economic development investments, which create upward mobility for our residents and growth opportunities for our local economy.”

Voters may be asked to approve a property tax increase — costing the owner of a $500,000 home about $13 more per month while raising $74 million for the county — or a new 0.25% sales tax this fall to make up the difference, Commissioner Leslie Summey said.

Campbell said commissioners are continuing a monthslong process of outreach meant to identify what voters want county leaders to do about the shortfall ahead of an August deadline for the county to put a tax increase on the November ballot.

“You’ll be hearing about this a lot over the next few months,” she said. “Funding affects everything we do and our ability to partner with you in our shared work that is much needed for our residents, and to be responsive to those needs of our residents, and prevent increased deterioration and harm.”

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