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County officials urge careful response as CCAP funding shortfall threatens local child-care capacity
Summary
County staff told commissioners the state’s forecast and early budget proposals leave CCAP underfunded, with local child-care providers and parents at risk if enrollments are reduced.
Arapahoe County leaders devoted substantial time during the Jan. 14 legislative study session to the unfolding child-care funding strain under the Colorado Child Care Assistance Program (CCAP).
Cody O’Brien, county legislative staff, and Dan McDuffie and other human-services staff briefed commissioners on rapid developments: the governor’s supplemental request includes about $10 million statewide for CCAP, while policymakers are also pursuing a $150 million request for universal pre-K (UPK). County lobbyists and staff emphasized the state’s projected shortfall and uncertainty about federal or state fixes; one presenter called the 2025 budget year “very bad,” citing an estimated $670 million state shortfall.
Dan McDuffie and Commissioner Jessica Campbell said counties are being asked to respond without certainty about legal authority or funding sources. Some counties, including Denver‑area jurisdictions, have already moved to freeze CCAP enrollments and are sending letters to the Joint Budget Committee. McDuffie said Larimer County is challenging whether the state can require counties to make up CCAP shortfalls.
County leaders described the program’s local impacts: a projected reduction in CCAP rolls could close child-care programs in rural counties and leave parents without 0–4 child-care options. Commissioners asked staff to coordinate with school districts, county partners and statewide associations and to prepare a proposal that would be constructive for legislators: several members urged the county to ask for solutions (for example, a target percentage of eligible children served) rather than only raising concerns.
Commissioners asked staff for time to craft a possible letter to the Joint Budget Committee and to seek more information from state partners before sending formal county correspondence. Dan McDuffie and staff will continue to track CCAP budget hearings and coordinate with other counties; the county plans to revisit a possible formal position at a future meeting.
