Metrics of community investment like taxes and place and type of employment worked their way into Silverthorne officials’ conversations around who could get first dibs in a new child care center. 

The town’s recreation center expansion project will bring a new, 2,370 square-foot area dedicated to licensed care for 5-12 year-olds with the capacity for around 45 children. While the estimated $29 million project isn’t slated to wrap until fall 2026, officials started preliminary discussion around eligibility for childcare at a Thursday, Sept. 25, meeting. 

Silverthorne’s recreation programs manager Mindy Nicholds said people have long been asking for this type of licensed programming at the Silverthorne Recreation Center, but it wasn’t previously possible due to space constraints. That soon will no longer be the case thanks to the expansion project adding almost 25,000 square feet to the recreation center. 

She said licensed child care in Colorado is regulated through the state, making for some more stringent mandates and protocols compared to nonlicensed programming, and is meant to provide consistency for families both during the school year and summer. It can provide transportation from school to the center when needed and is typically more affordable for families compared to other child care options, she said.

Given it is a community recreation center, officials and staff members discussed the definition of “community” and if geographical boundaries should play a factor in eligibility for child care. Council members Tim Applegate and Tanecia Spagnolia were among those who wanted to see some specific benefits for Silverthorne residents. 

Nicholds said staff members defined the community as “not stopping at the borders of its permanent residents, but also including businesses, visitors and second-home owners.” 

She said some other municipalities’ child care offerings prioritize town residents or town staff members. She said if property tax is supporting a program, residents might expect to get priority, but Silverthorne doesn’t collect property tax. She said disadvantages to prioritizing Silverthorne residents for registration can include additional costs and administrative challenges. 

Because of this, she said, the current proposed plan is to open registration to everyone at one time. She said there will also be registration for other non-licensed childcare programs that will open afterward. She and Silverthorne’s recreation director Steven Herrman said they are assuming those who live or work nearby will be the bulk of people applying. 

“I hate to think that all of a sudden, we have 20 kids from Breck or Frisco that got in and 20 kids from Silverthorne that wanted to get in and they didn’t. … Why would we not at least consider that option of opening up to our residents first?” Applegate said. “It is the town of Silverthorne that’s paying for this.” 

Herrman said some might find this to be another barrier. He said some living in unincorporated Summit County butting up against the Silverthorne town line, in areas like Wildernest, could find this unfair. 

“I was voted to look after Silverthorne residents’ affairs, and I wasn’t asked to look after Wildernest or unincorporated Summit County’s concerns,” Applegate said. 

Council member Erin Young, who grew up in Summit County, said she fell into this camp growing up and highlighted how residents living within town lines already get a benefit via a cheaper recreation center pass and other related rates. She lived just outside of the town boundary behind the Silverthorne Recreation Center as a child and had to pay a more expensive rate for a pass because of it. 

Herrman said Silverthorne residents get a 20% discount on a Silverthorne Recreation Center pass. He said, when it comes down to it, not collecting property taxes makes a difference in what the town can offer compared to towns that do collect property taxes. He said officials in communities with property taxes might feel a different obligation to residents because of it. 

“There’s a line that has to start and stop somewhere, and that’s where this is the most equitable and fair approach,” he said of the recommendation from staff not to use a priority system to fill the program’s spots. 

Council member Jonnah Glassman agreed, noting residents of communities with property taxes are subsidizing more municipal offerings than residents in communities without property taxes. 

Mayor Ann-Marie Sandquist recalled how the bond passed by voters to boost funding for the recreation expansion center project upped the lodging tax, something largely supported by Silverthorne businesses and tourists. She also highlighted how sales tax-based the town’s revenue is, noting how residents of different Summit County communities support their town anytime they shop at a Silverthorne business. 

Council member Bruce Butler wondered if transportation would be sent to schools outside of Silverthorne if children living outside of town boundaries get a spot in the programming. Nicholds said they plan to start with transportation from Silverthorne Elementary School.

Town staff members assured council members there would be numerous more discussions on the matter, and that there will also be the opportunity to change things after the first year the programming opens.