To: Board of County Commissioners
Through: Michelle Halstead, Director, Commissioners' Office
Prepared By:
prepared
Daniela Villarreal, Management Analyst, Commissioners' Office
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presenter
Presenter: Daniela Villarreal, Management Analyst, Commissioners' Office
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Subject:
title
Arapahoe County Cultural Council 2026-2027 Funding Recommendations for the Scientific and Cultural Facilities District Tier III Awards
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Purpose and Request:
recommended action
The Arapahoe County Cultural Council requests formal adoption of the recommended 2026-2027 Scientific and Cultural Facilities District (SCFD) Tier III awards as presented in the Study Session on June 16, 2026.
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Alignment with Strategic Plan: Economic Resilience and Stability - Support long-term economic resilience through responsible fiscal and investment strategies.
Background and Discussion:
The Scientific and Cultural Facilities District (SCFD) is a seven-county tax district established under Colorado law, approved by the Colorado General Assembly, and repeatedly renewed by voters for more than 30 years. SCFD distributes funds generated by a 0.1% (1/10 of 1%) sales and use tax to qualified cultural organizations across the Denver metro area through a three-tier funding structure:
1. Tier I provides direct funding to the largest cultural organizations based on a formula defined in state statute.
2. Tier II supports regional organizations, such as the City of Aurora Cultural Services Division and Wings Over the Rockies, which qualify by meeting specific budget and attendance thresholds.
3. Tier III allocates funding to each participating county, which in turn distributes its share through local Cultural Councils, such as the Arapahoe County Cultural Council (ACCC).
The Arapahoe County Cultural Council (ACCC) is appointed by the Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) to review applications and make funding recommendations for the County's share of SCFD revenue, in accorda...
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