HomeMy WebLinkAbout20161241 STATE OF COLORADO
DEPARTMENT OF MILITARY AND VETERANS AFFAIRS
COLORADO DIVISION OF VETERANS AFFAIRS 990 "` Pte`
1355 S. Colorado Blvd., Suite 113, Building C ��'visioN of vF\ "*.S
Denver, Colorado 80222
Phone: (303) 284-6077, Fax: (303) 284-3163 e0
G John Hickenlooper
Reuben Mestas .6* Governor
Director 1
PQR 1Ni Major General
O GO c S H. Michael Edwards
We1.M" SOO The Adjutant General
March 7, 2016
Board of County Commissioners
Weld County
PO Box 758
Greeley, CO 80632-0758
Dear Sir or Madam,
This letter serves as a reminder that the Colorado General Assembly has increased the dollar amount paid to
Colorado Counties in support of their County Veterans Service Officers. Funds were distributed in January
2016 to counties who have full time service officers at a rate of$1,380 a month. Payouts will be posted every
January and July.
The additional funding is to provide a means for the County to increase the scope and visibility of the local
County Veterans Service Officer(CVSO). Both rural and metro counties utilize this program thus: as I stated
before, "one shoe does not fit all". It is up to each Board of Commissioners will determine how best to
maximize the program based on their unique knowledge of their county.
Over the course of the last ten years, the amount brought into the State of Colorado in the form of federal
entitlements has increased from about 500 million dollars in 2004 to one and a half billion dollars in 2014 due
in large part to the work of your CVSO. The past amounts being sent into your specific county from 1996-2014
can be found at:
http://www.va.govivetdata/expenditures.asp.
1 Press the Colorado tab (CO)at the bottom of the excel spread sheet to see the county breakdown for your
specific county. It is important to remember that every dollar brought into your county offsets monies not
having to be spent by your public assistance programs.
Since the Colorado counties began to receive this money, many questions have arisen from counties
throughout the state as to how this money could be spent. As Director of Colorado Division of Veterans Affairs,
I am available to the BOC or Department staff to offer ideas as to the most effective ways to maximize your
County Veterans Service Officer Program with the use of the additional funding. Please feel free to contact my
office listed above to schedule a meeting.
Thank you in advance for your support to Colorado Veterans.
2016-1241
Reuben "Ben" Mestas
State Director
Cc: CVSO COWTItiu,�c�0
County Supervisor U—to— I la
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