Adams County names Eric Francis as poet laureate; staff seeks budget for two‑year residency

Adams County arts staff announced the selection of Eric Francis as the county’s new poet laureate and outlined a two‑year residency that will include public programming in 2026–2027, an anthology project and a welcome event on Tuesday, Sept. 30.

Arts staff described Francis as a teaching artist based near Green Valley Ranch with ties to local schools and multiple fellowships and publications. Staff said the selection panel of 10 jurors awarded the residency unanimously on the strength of Francis’s written work and community engagement record. Staff said the county has completed an orientation with the chosen artist and is planning public programming across county Anythink library branches.

Why it matters: The poet laureate residency is intended to expand county arts programming and build community engagement across library branches and other venues. Commissioners asked whether the residency would be funded as a recurring line item in the general fund and whether the arts program could be formalized so events and the laureate stipend are sustainable in future budgets.

Budget and schedule: Arts staff said they submitted a budget request for the fiscal‑year 2026 process and that the residency’s costs would include an artist stipend, small public events and a printed anthology. Staff described the residency as a two‑year project running across portions of 2025–2027 with public programming concentrated in 2026–2027; they estimated the county’s share of program costs would be “south of $50,000” across the residency and that the artist stipend would include about $20,000 in 2026. Staff also said Anythink and other partners will contribute funds. Commissioners asked for a formalized line item and for a follow‑up memo with exact numbers; staff agreed to provide detailed budget figures during the county’s regular budget process.

Commissioner questions and staff responses focused on the funding source and sustainability. One commissioner asked whether the program would be a stable budget line; staff said the request was submitted as part of the general‑fund budget process and that the arts office would return with precise figures. Another commissioner encouraged formalizing the program’s funding so it does not rely on ad‑hoc or one‑time allocations.

Next steps: Staff will return to commissioners with the itemized budget request and supporting documents as part of the FY‑26 budget calendar and will notify commissioners of the planned Sept. 30 welcome breakfast and the broader public programming schedule for 2026–2027. Commissioners did not take a vote on funding at the meeting; the discussion concluded with broad support for proceeding to the formal budget process.