Arapahoe County human services warns of roughly $2.9M funding shortfall as grant‑funded caseloads rise

Arapahoe County Human Services Director Dan McKelkey told commissioners that the department projects a near‑term funding shortfall driven by rising caseloads, the end of one‑time federal recovery dollars and state and federal rule changes.

McKelkey said the department currently expects a county match shortfall of about $2,890,000 in 2025 if no additional revenue or program changes are adopted, and that shortfall could grow in subsequent years depending on federal and state appropriations. He described the shortfall as tied to the county’s required local match for multiple programs rather than a single line item.

Why it matters: Human Services administers SNAP (food assistance), Medicaid eligibility/redetermination, child care assistance, TANF/Colorado Works and child/adult protective services. McKelkey and his leadership team said program demand —…