Arapahoe County leaders say community resources face staffing, program cuts without stable replacement funding

Arapahoe County Community Resources Director Kathy Smith on Tuesday outlined a package of staffing and program requests the department will include in the 2026 budget process, saying most requests are meant to replace one‑time grant money with ongoing funding.

Smith told the Board of County Commissioners that “Most all of my requests are mainly to replace 1 time funding, with ongoing and secured funding.” She said the department is approximately 90% grant funded and several critical positions now supported by ARPA, CARES/HUD recovery funds and other temporary sources will be at risk when those dollars expire.

Why it matters: the department manages veteran services, affordable housing and homeless services, workforce programs, weatherization, senior services and grant administration. Smith warned that reductions to HUD, LIHEAP, WIOA and other federal/state programs would force cuts to positions and services the community has come to rely on.

Key requests and risks: Smith presented specific “have‑to” items that she described as essential to maintain current service levels. Highlights included: - Veterans Service Office: two ARPA‑funded veteran service officers that must be converted to ongoing funding or risk elimination in 2026; Smith estimated waits could rise to about 16 weeks and requested roughly $171,000 in ongoing costs to secure those roles. - Community development/housing/HUD administration: three FTE that administer HOME and CDBG programs — estimated at $180,000 in ongoing salary/benefits — that Smith said are not covered by current HUD administrative allocations if those formula allocations decline. - Homeless services administrator: an existing FTE currently covered with one‑time special funds; continuing that position long term would cost roughly $125,000 and Smith said without it “there really would be no dedicated leadership or supervision for existing homeless service programs.” - Pretrial mental‑health navigator: one remaining temporary position (ARPA funded through 2025) that Smith proposed converting to ongoing funding at about $90,000; she told commissioners the pretrial mental‑health program serves about 100 people a year and has an 80% success rate. - Housing navigation and rental assistance: Smith summarized a county rental assistance program that has been run with ERA and ARPA dollars (monthly spending at times reached $300,000); she proposed an ongoing program at reduced monthly levels and recommended board policy direction on limits and self‑sufficiency requirements. - County affordable housing fund: Smith proposed a startup and ongoing contribution to create a rolling housing fund for gap financing and preservation; she said past ARPA and HUD recovery funding helped the county support roughly 750 housing units and shorter‑term homelessness projects. - Other items: grants administration support ($90,000 ongoing), a frontline/desk staffing request ($133,000 ongoing for 2 positions), workforce center administrative needs, weatherization advocacy to defend LIHEAP and infrastructure funding, senior homemaker services (one FTE at $55,000 ongoing) and continued funding for the courthouse eviction legal clinic (Colorado Legal Services) that Smith said has a 75% success rate in preventing evictions.

Budget context and next steps: Todd Weaver of county finance framed the study session as a step in developing the 2026 budget and said departments will formally submit requests during that process. Smith repeatedly cautioned the board the requests assume continuation of certain federal and state grants; she flagged the president’s budget proposal and other federal measures as potential downside risks for HUD, LIHEAP and WIOA funding streams.

Board questions and clarifications: commissioners asked about specific funding sources, timing for grant awards (for example Proposition 1.23 childcare/housing stability funds), and which positions are currently grant‑funded versus general‑funded. Smith noted some positions are funded in part through an intergovernmental agreement with Adams County; that agreement is due for renewal and could affect staffing.

What the department asked commissioners to do now: use the study session responses to shape questions for directors as they prepare formal 2026 budget packages and to consider whether and how one‑time federal/recovery funding should be converted to ongoing county support for statutorily required or high‑prior‑impact services.

Ending: Smith said the department will submit formal budget requests in the July–August budget process and provide memos responding to board questions; commissioners directed staff to continue refining cost estimates and policy options for the board’s review.