$150,000 of 6E funding will be used for childcare tuition assistance scholarships by Estes Valley Investment in Childhood Services (EVICS), resolved the Town Board during its regular meeting on May 28.
After much discussion and testimony from Town staff, EVICS, and a local daycare provider, the original request of $200,000 was reduced by $50,000 when several board members expressed reservations about how the money will be managed.
Voter-approved in November 2022, 6E increased the existing lodging tax by 3.5% with the resulting increase to be used for workforce housing and childcare needs throughout the community of Estes Park.
A balance of $300,000 of 6E funds is left from 2023, reported Carlie Bangs, the Town’s housing and childcare manager. manager, and so far this year, approximately $60,000 to $70,000 has been raised through the 6E tax measure.
Additional childcare tuition assistance is needed at this time because in February, the Colorado Childcare Assistance Program (CCAP) under which 26 Estes Park children are currently receiving tuition assistance, froze new enrollment in Larimer County due to insufficient funds, said Bangs.
The need for childcare tuition assistance continues, she said, with an additional 60 to 70 infants and toddlers and another 12 to 20 preschool children qualifying for tuition assistance in Estes Park; nine children are currently on the CCAP waiting list.
Since the CCAP freeze, families have been turning to EVICS and its childcare scholarship program to “fill the gap,” Bangs explained, which totaled more than $50,000 through April, for which EVICS was required to dip into its reserves.
Citing this deficit in operating funds, for which the Town was being asked to backfill with a portion of the funding request, and the statement of financial activity year-to-date included in the application, Trustee Kirby Hazelton expressed concerns about how the funds would be managed by EVICS.
“None of my comments are about whether the funds are needed. That’s exceptionally clear: the funds are needed in our community … It’s a question of making sure the funds are managed properly once they’re sent out,” Hazelton explained.
EVICs has received base funding from the Town and plans to ask for it again this year. “The dependency on 6E funding plus base funding” gave Hazelton pause about the sustainability of the organization.
Trustee Cindy Younglund said the EVICS budget vs. actuals report for January-April, 2024, “looks like you’re already overbudget in payroll, travel, utilities, and web design at $28,000 (among other expenditures). That’s not even talking about childcare funding assistance. Yeah, I know the need is there but I have reservations about the amount and how it will be used.”
“I’m actually encouraged by your financial strength,” said Trustee Bill Brown, saying $200,000 in reserves for an organization that has an approximate $700,000 annual budget, is “really good.” Brown was “very much in support of this proposal,” and moved to approve the original request, to be paid in equal installments monthly for the remainder of this year.
“We know how to manage this program, we’ve proven we know how to do this,” said Lesta Johnson, a former board member and current employee of EVICS. Qualifying families must be at or below 235% of the federal poverty level, a to be eligible for tuition assistance for childcare assistance through EVICS. CCAP patterned its guidelines after the tuitional scholarship program at EVICS. All four employees of EVICs are trained to process tuition assistance requests within 48 hours, explained EVICS Interim Director Rut Miller, and all the funds would go directly to the providers, not EVICS.
CCAP patterned its guidelines after the tuitional scholarship program at EVICS. All four employees of EVICs are trained to process tuition assistance requests within 48 hours, explained EVICS Interim Director Rut Miller, and all the funds would go directly to the providers, not EVICS.
Younglund made a counter motion to approve $150,000 and to give Town Administrator Travis Machalek authority to enter into a contract with EVICS to determine the distribution of these funds. The motion passed with Brown and Mayor Gary Hall voting nay as they preferred to fund the entire amount.
Other subjects tackled at the May 28 Town Board included a report by the Town’s new water engineer, Jackie Wesley, on proposed improvements in the areas where there have been the most water-pipe breakages and leaks: Carriage Hills and Spruce Knob; the vice president of Salud Family Health Centers presented a base funding report on Estes Park Salud; and, Machalek reported on the basics of governance authority for the benefit of the newly-elected board members and Mayor.
The following was included on the Consent Agenda and were all approved:
- The payment of bills
- Town Board and Study Session Minutes dated May 14, 2024.
- Estes Park Planning Commission Minutes dated March 19, 2024 (acknowledgment only).
- Endorsing Town Attorney Dan Kramer for the Colorado Municipal League Executive Board.
- Resolution 48-24 First Amendment to the Intergovernmental Agreement with Platte River Power Authority, Fort Collins, Loveland, and Longmont for Fiber Management $0.
- Revised Policy 601 Purchasing Policy – Spending Authority & Limits.
- Appointments to the Transportation Advisory Board:
- Joan Hooper to complete the term of Mark Igel expiring March 31, 2025.
- Wallace Wood to complete the term of Ann Finley expiring March 31, 2026.
- Misti Marcantonio to a term expiring March 31, 2027.
- Kristen Ekeren to a term expiring March 31, 2027.
The next Town of Estes Park Board meeting is scheduled for June 11, 7 p.m. at Town Hall, Estes Park. Links to upcoming agendas and past meeting minutes can be found here.