Estes Park expects child care aid to continue through 2027 changes

Estes Park expects its lodging-tax funds to keep families from losing child care tuition assistance through 2027 program changes, staff told the Town Board Oct. 27.

Larimer County is moving people through its child care assistance waitlist, but the process takes time and is not expected to change much in 2027, staff said. The countywide 1B sales tax includes tuition assistance among its child care priorities, staff said. NoCo Kids Thrive, the tax’s fund distributor, plans to begin distributing tuition-assistance money in 2027. The town plans to coordinate with the local nonprofit Evix Family Resource Center, NoCo Kids Thrive and Larimer County as their tuition-assistance programs develop and are combined.

Early-summer revenue led the town to raise its lodging-tax projection to $6.5 million, staff said. The draft plan keeps an 80% housing and 20% child care funding split for a third year. The child care share began at 12% and rose as capital investment in child care became a focus.

Seasonal workforce housing is part of the draft 2027 plan, including a role for the housing authority, and staff said it was named in the ballot language. Trustee Mark Igel said seasonal housing “has an impact on long-term or year-round housing” when homes held for summer use sit relatively empty off-season. Another trustee supported including seasonal housing but said balancing its funding with year-round housing would remain difficult.

Staff described a shift away from acquiring more property toward keeping existing housing investments available to the workforce and financially sustainable. It is focusing on moving projects past planning, infrastructure and financing barriers before construction. Staff called workforce rental assistance successful; the town is exploring down-payment and homeownership aid, accessory dwelling units and partnerships with private developers.

Igel said the presentation lacked detail on how the town measures progress against its overall housing strategy. “So is that a 10-year goal, 20-year goal?” Igel asked, calling for data that could show progress or signal when to refocus the strategy. Staff said an earlier impact report had also prompted a request for more specific figures and that the 2027 report could include more detailed metrics. Staff offered to send elected officials housing metrics showing changes from before 6E to the present, drawing on the Housing Action Plan and an addendum to the needs assessment presented at the prior board meeting.