The Parks & Open Space fund is a Capital Projects Fund which includes Conservation Trust Fund proceeds, which come from the Colorado state lottery, and the Parks & Open Space sales and use taxes. Dedicated revenue streams are used toward funding county open space acquisitions and maintenance as well as debt service obligations.

The first 0.25% sales and use tax for open space acquisition and maintenance was approved by voters in 1992. Since that time voters have approved several additional open space taxes and extensions, bringing the current sales and use tax rate dedicated to open space to 0.475%. The latest extension was approved by voters in 2016 and took effect in 2020.

One-time capital expenditures are made from any surplus in revenues that are not committed for debt service or operations. A multi-year analysis of the long-term debt schedules compared with the forecast of sales and use tax revenues is performed annually, resulting in a fiscally sustainable position for this fund through the end of the debt retirement in 2030 and beyond.

The 2023 adopted revenue budget of $45,002,112 and expenditure budget of $49,871,911 result in a projected fund balance of $49,192,377.

The adopted expenditure budget includes the following appropriations:

• Conservation Trust Funds ($414,053)
• 1994 Open Space Sales and Use Tax ($13,012,688)
• 2005 Open Space Sales and Use Tax ($11,526,573)
• 2008 Open Space Sales and Use Tax ($8,721,058)
• 2011 Open Space Sales and Use Tax ($16,197,539)