Commissioners prioritize strategic ­investments to expand services, create stability

The 2026 Recommended Budget adopted invests approximately $670 million in Arapahoe County essential services — roads, safety, housing, and health — while building reserves to protect against future uncertainties.

Why it matters: Thanks to voter approval of Issue 1A in November 2024, the County has more flexibility to meet today’s service demands while planning for tomorrow. The total budget package balances immediate investments with future stability, keeping communities safe, resilient, and thriving even as state and federal revenues tighten.

The Big Picture

$667.5 million total budget

Strategic investments prioritize essential county services such as infrastructure/road maintenance, public safety, and housing/protective services.

Staffing: Adds 63 new positions across multiple departments, particularly in public safety.

Historic capital investments: More than $125 million over the next five years to help address deferred maintenance and improve county roads, facilities, and systems.

Increases Social Services Fund mill levy to appropriate an additional $2.1 million annually.

“Even with funding concerns at the state and federal levels, Arapahoe County commissioners made a promise to invest locally in the programs and services that make a difference in our residents’ lives,” said Board Chair Leslie Summey. “This budget prioritizes public safety and human services, expands workforce investments, brings stability to our infrastructure, and helps future proof the budget in the years ahead.”

To ensure funds will maximize good for residents, budget priorities were influenced by the County’s strategic plan, which guides how to deliver services, invest public resources, and plan for long-term success. The budget strongly supports the plan’s four focus areas:

Safe And Healthy Communities

The budget prioritizes the safety and well-being of our most vulnerable residents. The Board increased the District Attorney’s budget by 22% over the last year, which will enhance support for domestic violence victims and strengthen the office’s ability to seek justice for all cases within the 18th Judicial District. The budget also strengthens public health protections through expanded environmental health oversight and increased vaccine clinics to keep our community healthy.

To deliver these enhanced services effectively, the budget includes strategic staffing additions at the Sheriff’s Office, District Attorney, and Coroner’s Office. These personnel investments ensure we have the capacity to respond promptly to public safety needs, provide thorough case support for victims and decedents, and maintain the quality of services residents depend on.

Economic Resilience And Stability

Approximately $6 million will deepen the county’s current work to advance affordable housing projects, provide rental assistance, and provide navigation services to the unhoused and those experiencing homelessness. Full funding for the County’s Aid to Agencies program was restored and increased by one million, and contributions to local economic development agencies were secured. A $2.1 million increase in the County match to the Social Services Fund will cover anticipated growth in expenditures and the continuation of safety-net programs that help families during financial stress.

Sustainable Growth And Infrastructure

To tackle the long list of road and capital improvement projects, commissioners significantly increased funding for roads and bridges while also increasing investments in facilities. Funding came from two sources. First, the shift of Specific Ownership Tax (from vehicle registrations) from the General Fund to the Road and Bridge Fund will directly fund road maintenance and repair. Second, $26.6 million is being dedicated for capital projects, covering almost all the priority needs identified for 2026. Funds to increasing staffing in Public Works and Development will help shorten application times, as well as help Open Spaces more effectively manage and preserve land assets.

Workforce And Community Prosperity

Building a thriving community and strong workforce means providing access to education and job training, affordable housing, and childcare support for working families. Increases to social services funding and affordable housing will support family stability while staff additions in human services and public health will help remove barriers to residents accessing support. The adopted budget adds staff across departments to respond to service demand, supporting public sector workforce growth and retention.

Fiscal Responsibility

One of commissioners’ biggest concerns was getting the County on solid financial footing — especially important as property tax revenue is expected to dip by $2.5 million in 2027. To offset revenue loss, the Board increased the County’s Reserve Fund to 15%, identified projects for one-time cash infusion, and made a modest adjustment to the Social Services mill levy to ensure matching federal funding. To promote transparency, commissioners tied new and continuing projects to the County’s strategic plan and performance management system to demonstrate how funding impacts services.

Honoring A Promise To Taxpayers

In 2024, Commissioners warned of service cuts as revenue lagged peer counties and as federal and state contributions shrunk. That’s why the Board placed measure 1A on the November 2024 ballot to release the County from revenue limits imposed by the Taxpayer’s Bill of Rights. An overwhelming majority of voters approved the measure, and a Resident Advisory Committee (RAC) was formed to monitor progress. Commissioners vowed to invest the additional funds in programs and services that impact residents the most and develop a new budget process with guardrails. That process helped refine and clarify new and ongoing requests:

County leaders now draw a sharper distinction between ongoing funding to sustain services and one-time funding for big projects, technology upgrades, election costs, and more.

The already rigorous threshold for vehicle and equipment approval has been strengthened to ensure only critical needs are met.

Departments refined their prioritization process; most high-priority capital projects are funded while some medium-priority projects were held back for additional evaluation.

The RAC met with Commissioners on Nov. 4 and unanimously endorsed Measure 1A funding proposals in the 2026 recommended budget and affirmed its alignment with the voter-approved measure. Commissioners also held a public hearing on October 28 and formally adopted the Recommended Budget at the December 9 business meeting.