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Boulder County approves 2026 Human Services and Worthy Cause funding cycles, commissioners flag contingency concerns
Summary
The board approved Human Services Fund allocations recommended by staff and Worthy Cause capital grants for 2026, while commissioners sought clarification on a small dollar discrepancy and urged a plan to preserve contingency funding amid potential federal SNAP/Medicaid shifts.
Boulder County commissioners approved the county’s recommended allocations for the 2026 Human Services Fund and the Worthy Cause 2026 capital funding cycle during their Nov. 18 meeting, while asking staff to clarify a small numerical discrepancy in the Human Services Fund resolution and signaling concern about potential federal program instability.
Cardenio Kiyama, investment and contract administrator in Community Services, told the board that staff received 50 Human Services Fund applications requesting $2,442,197 and recommended awarding $1,325,818 from Fund 101. "We received 50 applications totaling $2,442,197 in request," Kiyama said. Staff asked the board to delegate signing authority for funding agreements in accordance with county grant program policy 9.02 d.
Commissioner Stillsman expressed concern during deliberations about approving awards now, citing the prospect of a federal government shutdown and changes to SNAP and Medicaid that could increase emergency needs. "I have reservations about approving it at this time... it would make more sense to wait until like February to approve the grants," Stillsman said, urging caution and contingency planning. Commissioner Levy and others noted additional state funding and available fund balance that reduced that risk and moved the board toward approval, with direction to reconcile the $1,000 discrepancy between the resolution and the memo.
On Worthy Cause (a 0.05% sales tax ballot fund for nonprofit capital projects), Carlene Okayama presented recommendations from a nine-member review committee. Staff received 31 applications requesting $14,640,345 and recommended allocating $4,998,658 from Fund 125, including adding Hope for Longmont to support a capital project; staff confirmed the City of Longmont is providing technical support and the project is working with Tetra Tech. Commissioners asked whether Hope had planned for increased operating costs tied to a new permanent facility; staff said Hope does not anticipate new staffing or operating needs at this time.
Both funding packages were approved by the board. Commissioners asked staff to (1) reconcile and correct the printed allocation number in the Human Services Fund resolution, and (2) consider a strategy to preserve contingency funding for emergent needs if federal programs lapse.
Next steps: staff will finalize and execute funding agreements under delegated signing authority and provide a reconciliation for the Human Services Fund total in the record.
