County budget and services

Staff proposed eliminating the county's onsite flu shot clinics, saving about 20,000 dollars from the health and dental fund, noting declining attendance and new free clinics coming through the marathon health provider in 2027. The board approved the cut, asking HR to communicate community vaccine options to staff.

Fleet services proposed decommissioning two fuel sites, at the Justice Center and Alaska Avenue, both over 30 years old and underused, saving about 25,000 dollars a year. The board approved the proposal.

Streiff also proposed a 200,000 dollar sustainability tax cut to the climate equity fund, on top of a 250,000 dollar general fund cut already made in August. Levy pushed for further general fund cuts to the well-funded program given cuts elsewhere, while Loachamin opposed any further climate equity cuts as inconsistent with the county's equity and climate commitments; the board approved only the 200,000 dollar sustainability tax cut.

“It feels like also in conflict with, um, who's this organization says that we are in the work that we do.”

Sustainability director Susie Streiff presented six proposals totaling 930,000 dollars in reductions against a 1.6 million dollar sustainability tax fund deficit, including cutting housing authority energy grants by 400,000 dollars, an Eco-Cycle education contract by 45,000 dollars, climate communications by 35,000 dollars, resource conservation programs by 100,000 dollars, and Mobility for All by 150,000 dollars. The board approved all of these.

Staff proposed eliminating the juvenile assessment center position for about 118,000 dollars in health and human services fund savings, but the board asked for the promised partner impact analysis before finalizing the cut. Staff said the review of who would cover overnight youth services will take two to three months.

Staff proposed eliminating a vacant Community Action Program manager position, vacant two to three years, saving about 154,000 dollars from the dedicated resources fund and about 93,000 dollars in general fund subsidy. The board approved the cut and confirmed it will not affect the county's CSBG grant allocation.

Sheriff Curtis Johnson proposed moving about 500,000 dollars in jail medical costs from the general fund to the voter-approved offender management fund, which he said has a healthy 9.6 million dollar balance. He said the office no longer expects to need year-end budget amendments for food and medical costs because of a new kosher meal program and better cost management. The board approved the shift and asked staff to review whether the offender management fund's balance should be smaller.

District Attorney Michael Dougherty proposed a six month freeze on a vacant district court deputy DA position, a one-time savings of about 63,000 dollars, saying his office had already returned 500,000 dollars last year. All three commissioners rejected the proposal, saying a one-time freeze does not fix the structural deficit and that felony caseloads, including domestic violence and homicide cases, cannot absorb the loss.

“So one time savings of 63,000 dollars as actually moving us ahead. So I wouldn't support this proposal.”

Clerk and Recorder Molly Fitzpatrick proposed dropping an outside leadership coaching contract, saving about 24,300 dollars, because her office has built the same training in-house. The board approved this cut but rejected two further clerk proposals: cutting election judge hourly pay and cutting election outreach funding, citing concerns about disinformation and the difficulty of recruiting judges.

“I don't believe that we are in a spot right now where we can take reduction from the election's office.”

The assessor's office proposed reclassifying two vacant appraiser II positions to appraiser I, saving about 30,000 dollars, and cutting a vacant data collector position while raising hourly staff budget, saving about 57,000 dollars. The board supported both proposals, totaling about 95,000 dollars in general fund savings.

Chief Financial Officer Armando opened the work session by reminding the board of the 30 to 40 million dollar general fund structural deficit found in March 2025 and the 13.2 million dollar ongoing reduction target set for 2027, split about 9.2 million in personnel and 3.9 million in operating cuts. He said the priority-based budgeting process ranked programs but left final decisions to the board, and that 7.8 million in personnel and 2.8 million in operating cuts were already set from the August 4 meeting.

“Our objective is not simply to balance one year, but really looking for long-term sustainability.”

Staff reported the Benefits Advisory Board voted 12 to 10 for both the plan design changes and the one percent employee cost shift in Option 1. Levy said the closeness of the BAB vote mattered to him, while Loachamin said her request for a no-increase option came from wanting to give staff stability given rising costs elsewhere. Stolzmann moved Option 1, which passed 2-1.

“The more they get towards unanimous or at least lopsided votes, then the more I am inclined to follow their lead.”

MJ Companies presented three 2027 health plan options: the Benefits Advisory Board's recommended plan with minor design changes and a one percent employee cost shift (3.6 million dollar county cost increase), a middle option with no design change but the same cost share (4.5 million), and a no-change option requested by Commissioner Loachamin (5.2 million). Staff said the health plan fund balance was about 11.5 million dollars at the end of 2025, or three to four months of claims.

Commissioner Loachamin said employees now pay $500 or more a month for GLP-1 drugs after the county dropped coverage on January 1, 2026, and asked about restoring some coverage. MJ said BAB had not discussed restoring coverage this year, but agreed to add it to the 2027 BAB agenda and noted Marathon Health may add GLP-1 dispensing at its clinics.

The BAB recommended shifting the employee share of total plan cost from 13.3% to 14.3% of the budget. Commissioner Stolzmann said this shifts more risk to employees who use more care, since the smaller total cost comes from a higher out-of-pocket maximum. This decision was deferred along with the plan design change.

Consultant Andrea Crone reported that the MindCo virtual reality stress and tobacco program had very low use, about 8 people per year per program, and no reported quit results since 2025. Both BAB and MJ recommended ending MindCo, which saves the county about $110,000 per year. The commissioners approved ending the program.

MJ recommended ending the cross-accumulation of out-of-network spending toward in-network deductibles on the Consumer Choice plan, which would affect 357 members. The BAB did not support this change. Commissioner Loachamin said the change would affect too many people at once, and the commissioners kept the current rule.

MJ presented two options for raising deductibles and out-of-pocket maximums on both medical plans: the BAB-backed option and a larger MJ-backed option. Commissioner Stolzmann said the increases were significant and asked for a version with no premium increase at all. The commissioners asked OFM and MJ to model a fourth scenario that holds 2026 cost-sharing levels and shifts more cost to the county, and deferred the final decision to a later meeting.

MJ consultant Jamie Westbury described Marathon Health as a near-site primary care clinic network with 14 locations and $0 copay visits, labs, and generic drugs. The BAB voted 16-3 to add it for 2027. Commissioner Loachamin asked about the $2.3 million savings figure and about Spanish-language and cultural competency access; staff confirmed Spanish-speaking providers exist in person and by video.

Finance Director Sean already reported the Housing Authority is now close to self-sustaining on core operations, and expects to cut its county subsidy request by about 25 percent, from $2.1 million to $1.5 million. The agency will also ask for a one-time $5.3 million payment for the Willoughby Corner water purchase, due when the first phase 2/3 building permit is pulled.

“we would be looking to reduce our subsidy to the tune of probably 25 percent or so from roughly 2. 1 million down to 1. 5 million”

Housing division manager Kelly Schulz explained that HUD held back about $1.4 million from the agency over several months, leaving an estimated shortfall of about $280,000 after a $457,000 reserve release. The agency has paused new voucher issuance except for VASH and foster-youth vouchers, and about 25 to 29 emergency housing voucher households may face termination at year end if the shortfall is not resolved.

“we're estimating the shortfall for 727, 000 dollars”

IT Director Paul Janpoer said the assessment of whether the signal control item needed a track review was not done correctly, and asked to table the item to complete that review and check whether it expands services rather than just replacing existing equipment. Public Works confirmed both items are part of a purchasing cooperative Boulder County belongs to.

Stolzmann pulled two Public Works bid waivers from consent, saying the traffic signal control item may not have gone through the required IT technology review (track process) and that neither item's memo explained why a bid waiver, rather than standard bidding, was justified. She also asked staff to check whether other agencies use a regional traffic signal vendor through the Denver Regional Council of Governments and suggested replacing signals with roundabouts to cut future software costs.

Commissioner Loachamin acknowledged Boulder County is facing a budget deficit and said staff have received hundreds of emails in the past week about it alongside federal and state impacts on county programs.

Staff presented over 40 proposals to close a $13.2 million general fund gap for the 2027 budget. The board approved centralizing business analysts and contracting, and cutting software licensing costs. Commissioners rejected cuts to youth corps crews, extension programs, the volunteer coordinator, the Community Connections newsletter, and hazardous waste facility hours.

“Ongoing cuts are unfortunate. They are difficult and they are necessary.”