CENTENNIAL | Investing in Arapahoe County was the theme for this year’s Arapahoe County State of the County address, during which the county commissioners reflected on achievements from the past year and offered a vision forward for the county.
“When we asked residents what they wanted most from their local government, the message was clear — invest in the essential programs and services that make our community thrive,” said Leslie Summey, District 4 county commissioner.
More than 300 people attended the address at the Arapahoe County Fairgrounds Event Center in Aurora on June 10.
Commissioner Rhonda Fields of District 5 said the county has spent the past year working to make neighborhoods safe and strengthening infrastructure and services through the passage of 1A — the county’s ballot initiative to avoid spending limits imposed by the Taxpayer’s Bill of Rights (TABOR) — to invest in the community.
“We were blown away by the response. More than 70% of voters said yes and with that vote, our community chose to invest in some of the most important things in our community,” said Jessica Campbell, District 2 county commissioner. “The real work started this year and it couldn’t be happening at a more crucial time.”
This year’s address was notably different than last year’s, when the county discussed a steep budget shortfall as the American Rescue Plan Act funds from the COVID-19 pandemic were running out. During the 2024 address, the commissioners said that the county was considering cutting services, raising taxes or voting to repeal spending caps that were implemented by TABOR.
Ultimately, the county put measure 1A on the ballot and it passed in November, which allowed Arapahoe County to hold on to the extra funds.
While the TABOR funds have helped the county, Commissioner Carrie Warren-Gully of District 1 said federal funding has become a major concern this year.
“Government funding is always tricky, but this year, it’s a moving target due to all the uncertainty at the federal and state level,” she said. “Federal funding is up in the air, making it a little difficult to determine which program could be at risk … It absolutely changes on a daily basis. This is important because almost 17% of the county’s budget is from the federal government. Add to that the fact that the state is also in a budget crisis and you can see why we’re a little bit worried.”
The State of Colorado has reported a $1.2 billion budget shortfall, according to the Colorado Financial Institute.
“Despite that doom and gloom, we believe the road ahead is both urgent and promising,” Warren-Gully said.
Commissioners pointed to the county’s progress, driven by the overwhelming public support for measure 1A and guided by the updated comprehensive Arapahoe Forward Strategic Plan.
Looking toward the future, commissioners discussed the Arapahoe Forward Strategic Plan, which is intended to guide decisions across county departments and includes four key areas: safety, economy, infrastructure and workforce.
Measure 1A funds will continue to aid the county in expanding emergency responses, affordable housing and mental health services.
Arapahoe County is also conducting infrastructure upgrades at the detention center to expand medical and behavioral health treatment areas, and has formed new regional partnerships such as the National Women’s Soccer League headquarters and Meadowood Village co-op support.To watch Arapahoe County’s State of the County 2025 address, visit the county’s YouTube page.
This story was made available via the Colorado News Collaborative. Learn more at https://www.google.com/url?q=https://colabnews.co&source=gmail-imap&ust=1750707206000000&usg=AOvVaw1BbkQWcOsKxH2yV-0vM4lP