Repeal County Administration Funding Model

Colorado changes assistance funding, cuts budgets

Effective upon passage, the law ends Colorado’s required funding model for county administration of public and medical assistance. The state human services department determines county program and administrative costs using available funds and relevant facts. Payments still go through state treasury vouchers into county social services funds. The law also repeals authority to outsource Children’s Basic Health Plan functions to county departments and the related funding-model requirement. Lawmakers no longer must consider the model when funding food distribution programs, excluding the value of food stamps. For state fiscal year 2026–27, the Office of Economic Security loses $180,000 in General Fund money and $240,000 in transferred funds. The health care financing department loses $72,180 in General Fund money and $47,820 from the hospital provider fee fund. Those health department cuts affect transfers for Medicaid-funded programs run by the Office of Economic Security. Expected federal funding also falls by $180,000 for Economic Security and $120,000 for those transfers. These cuts apply only if the 2026–27 annual budget act becomes law, starting on the later effective date of either act. A cut is not required if its matching appropriation is absent or smaller than the specified reduction. These provisions change agency funding, not household eligibility or benefit amounts.