Larimer committee members press state over reclaimed internship/workforce funds

At the May 23 meeting, Mark Morgan raised an urgent concern that the state has asked for unspent money back from a two-year program created under Senate Bill 5, a move he said would remove funding for internship positions the county had helped arrange.

"The state has asked for any unspent money back," Morgan said. "That money was half of it. It was gonna be over a two-year period that takes away the funding for the positions at Front Range and Pueblo."

Morgan said the action "essentially undoes everything that we worked for" and urged the group to "get fairly aggressive" in pursuing sponsors and legal clarification. He said the change would affect at least two-year positions and a wildfire coordinator position that had been planned or offered locally.

Allison Lurch replied that the bill language ties unspent funds back to the general fund after two years and that staff had been working with James and others to interpret the statute and locate details. "We can continue this and not let it die," she said, urging members to provide information and reach out to James and other staff to pursue further details.

Commissioner McNally and others discussed whether the funds were encumbered or under contract (which could provide leverage); Commissioner Medina said she would follow up with Pueblo College. Members agreed to coordinate outreach outside the council (as private individuals where appropriate) and to have Allison and staff facilitate committee-level follow-up.

The committee did not take a formal vote on the matter; members asked staff to investigate encumbrance and contractual status and to report back.