Arapahoe County residents are now officially in the room where the money decisions happen, keeping an eye on how millions in new property tax revenue from voter-approved Measure 1A are spent. The county’s 10-member Resident Advisory Committee, made up of two volunteers from each of the five commissioner districts, has been meeting for just over a year. The group now convenes every other month to review Measure 1A spending and offer advice to commissioners, weighing in on everything from road work to affordable housing and mental health services.
Residents At The Table
Committee members describe the panel as a direct line between neighbors and the Board of County Commissioners, with a clear mission: make sure 1A dollars match what voters were promised. The group started out meeting monthly for orientation sessions and department briefings, then shifted to an every-other-month schedule once members moved from training into hands-on oversight.
“Being a native of Colorado, it was just one of the ways that I could somehow be a voice back to the community,” committee member Edie Summers said. Fellow member Janet Becker-Wold characterized the committee’s role as overseeing the process, according to CBS Colorado.
Where The Money Went
Arapahoe County’s 2026 Recommended Budget steers roughly $667.5 million toward essential services, and commissioners say Measure 1A money is being used for highly visible projects and one-time investments rather than day-to-day operations.
According to Arapahoe County, those 1A dollars have helped pay for:
- About $12 million in improvements along Arapahoe Road, Dry Creek Road, and Inverness Drive West
- A $46 million jail renovation and expansion, including a redesigned kitchen and laundry, along with expanded mental health services
- The creation or preservation of more than 300 affordable housing units
- More than $1.5 million for local nonprofits that provide food, housing support, and behavioral health services
- Roughly $21.5 million to support the transition to a standalone 18th Judicial District
What Officials Say And The Results
During the State of the County address on Tuesday, commissioners pitched the budget as proof they kept their word after the county “de-bruced” in 2024 and held on to revenue that otherwise would have been refunded. They also pointed to early results they say are tied to those investments.
Officials reported that new homelessness dropped 18% in 2025 and by more than 30% in 2026, with some local coverage pegging the decline in people living unsheltered closer to 35%. The address and the county’s progress were detailed by Sentinel Colorado.
How To Apply And Next Steps
Residents appointed to the advisory committee serve staggered one, two, or five-year terms, and county officials say there are currently three open seats, as reported by CBS Colorado. Applications and meeting materials are available through the county’s boards and committees webpages.
An earlier Hoodline report chronicled the panel’s November endorsement of the 2026 budget. So far, the advisory committee has unanimously backed the county’s Measure 1A investments, and county leaders say the group will keep reviewing projects as commissioners craft future budgets.
For Arapahoe County residents, the committee functions as the closest regular check on how newly retained tax dollars are used. Commissioners and volunteers alike say the goal is straightforward: keep spending visible and tied to the promises made at the ballot box. Barring any big changes, expect the panel to remain a regular presence at budget briefings as future spending plans take shape.
