Adams County is rolling out a one-year pilot program that aims to throw licensed child care providers a financial lifeline by rebating a portion of the county share of their property taxes. Officials hope the temporary break will slow tuition hikes and nudge providers to add desperately needed spots.
Under the plan, commercial child care centers could see roughly $11,200 refunded, while home-based providers would get about $1,000 on average. Programs that care for infants and toddlers may qualify for up to 100% of the county portion of their property tax bill. Applications open July 1 and run through Sept. 15, and the pilot itself is scheduled from July 1 through June 30, 2027.
The county is pitching the rebate as a targeted tool for a problem that is anything but small. Parents in Adams County spend an estimated 22% of household wages on child care, and there are about 12,633 licensed slots for nearly 39,650 children under six, according to the Common Sense Institute. That math leaves thousands of families stuck on waitlists or paying steep bills when they finally land a spot.
What’s In The Rebate
The county program is straightforward on paper. Eligible providers can receive at least 50% back on the county portion of their property taxes, and those serving infants and toddlers could qualify for up to a full 100% rebate on that county slice. County staff estimates that this will translate to about $11,200 on average for commercial facilities and roughly $1,000 for home-based providers.
Bill Aiken, the county’s deputy director of community development, told Denver7 that rising land, construction, and tax costs are "forcing operators to raise their prices." The rebate is meant to claw back at least a piece of those expenses, so providers are not passing every new cost directly to parents.
Why County Leaders Say It Matters
County officials are touting the rebate as a nimble, short-term way to relieve immediate financial pressure and, where possible, encourage more child care capacity. In theory, trimming a fixed cost like property taxes could free up room in tight budgets for hiring staff, keeping tuition from jumping, or opening a few more slots.
Analysts and the Common Sense Institute point out that property tax relief has its limits. Chronic shortages and high operating costs are often tied to workforce pay, licensing requirements and real-estate constraints that a rebate alone will not solve. Still, supporters argue that leaving providers to shoulder rising costs without any relief is a recipe for more closures and even longer waitlists.
How To Apply And What’s Next
Adams County will accept rebate applications from July 1 through Sept. 15. The pilot period is set for July 1 through June 30, 2027, and the county plans to review the results before deciding whether to extend or tweak the program, according to Denver7.
County leaders describe the effort as a modest first step rather than a full fix. They say they will be watching to see whether the rebates help providers avoid sharp tuition increases and whether any new capacity opens up, particularly for infants and toddlers, who are often the hardest age group to place.
Providers and parents looking for details on eligibility, timelines and county contacts can find more information on the Adams County Government community investment pages.
