The County has been struggling to meet the increased needs of citizens since before the COVID pandemic. The Board of County Commissioners has been seriously discussing its options since 2019, but had to shift focus in 2020 to address public health priorities. Over the past couple of years, federal funding from the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) helped to temporarily relieve budget shortfalls. However, all that funding dries up this year. The County must identify a sustainable funding solution or it will be forced to make significant cuts to services across every department.

While property values did increase significantly this year, the County reduced its share of property taxes by 29% — leaving $74 million uncollected. This is always how the County balances its budget. Rather than issue tax refunds to stay in compliance with TABOR, it adjusts the amount it collects to begin with. Residents get a “refund” before they ever have to pay.

Of all the tax revenue paid by property owners, the County keeps only 12% to provide mandated and essential services such as the Sheriff’s Office, motor vehicle, public health, housing and homelessness and services for Veterans and older adults. To put it into context, the County only gets $32/month for a home valued at $500,000. That $32 is spread thin across dozens of services we provide residents each and every day. The remaining 88% of property taxes paid by the residents of Arapahoe County are spread across 500 other taxing districts (cities and towns, school districts, utility districts, etc.).

Arapahoe County has always balanced its budget, but that means that many critical projects have been deferred. Right now, the County has a $316 million backlog within Public Works for critical maintenance and transportation projects. That number will only grow without new funding. And that’s just one example. Federal funding has made local affordable housing construction and services possible. As that money dries up this year, those programs will be cut unless additional funding is identified. Inflation has affected the County just like it has our residents — the needs still have to be addressed, but the costs continue to rise.