The Pueblo County Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) held a work session on May 15, 2025, to discuss potential changes to scholarship eligibility funded by excise tax revenues. The meeting focused on expanding access to scholarship funds for long-term residents of Pueblo County.

Currently, the scholarship program allows for 50% of excise tax funds to be allocated to scholarships for Pueblo County high school students attending local colleges and universities. In 2019, eligibility was broadened to include high school graduates attending any college in the United States. The latest proposal seeks to further expand eligibility to long-term residents of Pueblo County, requiring a residency period of either 12 or 18 months.

During the discussions, some commissioners expressed concerns about the proposed 12-month residency requirement, arguing that it may not adequately demonstrate a commitment to the community. A suggestion was made to extend the requirement to 18 months or even 24 months, emphasizing that a longer residency period would better reflect a student's ties to Pueblo County. The rationale behind this was to ensure that scholarship funds are awarded to individuals who have established roots in the community.

The conversation also touched on the implications of allowing out-of-state students who may establish residency quickly, particularly those who come to Pueblo for sports or other programs. Some commissioners were open to the idea of providing scholarships to these students after a longer residency period, believing it would encourage them to remain in the area for their education.

The meeting concluded with a consensus that a longer residency requirement could be beneficial, with many agreeing that 24 months would be a more appropriate timeframe to ensure that scholarship funds support students who are genuinely invested in the Pueblo community. Further discussions and decisions on this matter are expected in future meetings.