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Arapahoe County adopts 39‑item supplemental budget; funds courtroom buildout, DA staffing and transfers
Summary
The Board of County Commissioners approved a 39‑item supplemental appropriation for 2025 that moves $3 million to a capital fund for a third courtroom, adds staff tied to domestic‑violence case transfers, funds a 1.2% midyear merit increase, and adjusts multiple grant and infrastructure accounts.
At a public hearing on June 10, 2025, the Arapahoe County Board of Commissioners adopted a supplemental appropriation resolution covering 39 items to the county’s 2025 budget. The motion to adopt the resolution was made by Commissioner Mike Campbell and approved unanimously.
Key items adopted included a $3,000,000 transfer from the general fund balance to the capital expenditure fund to build out a third courtroom on the third floor of Courthouse 2 in anticipation of an additional judge. The board approved appropriations totaling roughly $1,300,000 across several funds to cover a mid‑year 1.2% merit salary increase, which the presentation said included a 1.2% step increase for the Fraternal Order of Police bargaining unit.
The supplemental package also included a request to appropriate $614,830 and add 14 full‑time equivalents (FTE) in the general fund related to domestic‑violence cases transferring from municipal court: about $328,000 and 10 FTE for the district attorney’s office, almost $103,000 for community resources to add two pretrial positions, and roughly $184,000 for two court‑security deputies for the sheriff’s office. Separately, the board approved an appropriation of $570,398 and one additional FTE for the district attorney’s office, which the presentation described as including a victim‑compensation specialist, career‑progression funding, and a $30,000 gas and oil budget for the DA’s office.
Other notable items included a $151,633 transfer and four FTE moving within the general fund from Public Works and Development to the Sheriff’s Office to transfer the Bridal Services Division; $303,515 in the capital expenditure fund for a sheriff’s data‑center rooftop AC unit; $393,100 in building‑maintenance funds for additional fire‑panel work; and revenue recognition adjustments to capture reimbursements for wildfire response and other grant roll‑forwards. Infrastructure‑related appropriations included nearly $1.5 million for Public Works’ FEMA and State of Colorado share of County Road 38 bridge work and additional closeout and reimbursement adjustments.
The presenter, Jessica Safko, budget manager, summarized the net fiscal impacts: the discussion‑level items would increase general‑fund expenditures by about $5.9 million and add 15 FTE; across all funds the amendments would increase revenue by about $3.8 million and expenditures by about $10.4 million. Revenue and budget cleanup items identified roughly $4.7 million in additional revenue recognition and about $3.2 million in additional expenditures.
Legal foundation and notice: Deputy county attorney John Kristofferson told the board that under state statute the board may supplement appropriations after public notice. The record reflects that notice of the supplemental appropriation items was published on June 5, 2025, in the Inglewood Herald, Littleton Independent and Centennial Citizen newspapers, establishing the board’s jurisdiction to consider the items.
Board comments and outcome: Commissioners discussed the package briefly; Commissioner Warren Gully thanked voters for approving prior funding measures that made some of the additions possible. Commissioner Campbell moved to adopt the resolution; the motion passed with no recorded dissents.
Votes at a glance from the June 10 meeting (all motions approved): - Agenda adoption: moved by Commissioner Warren Gully; seconded by Commissioner Campbell; outcome: approved unanimously. - Proclamation recognizing June 15, 2025 as World Elder Abuse Awareness Day: moved by Commissioner Baker; seconded by Commissioner Warren Gully; outcome: adopted unanimously. - Proclamation recognizing June 2025 as LGBTQIA+ Pride Month: moved by Commissioner Campbell; seconded by Commissioner Fields; outcome: adopted unanimously. - Consent agenda (eight items): moved by Commissioner Warren Gully; seconded by Commissioner Baker; outcome: adopted unanimously. - Supplemental appropriation resolution (39 items): moved by Commissioner Campbell; seconded: not named on the record; outcome: adopted unanimously.
Next steps: The budget amendments take effect as appropriated; several items add FTE and transfer program responsibilities between departments, which county managers will implement according to internal timelines.
