Fountain’s Fort Carson Partnership Nears City Budget in Value
Fountain’s partnership with Fort Carson continues to grow at a rapid pace, with the city’s Intergovernmental Support Agreements potentially reaching a value greater than its entire annual general fund budget next year.
During last Tuesday’s City Council meeting, council members approved six new positions for a department that will oversee Fountain’s growing IGSA program with the U.S. Army. The positions will be paid for through the agreements and will not come out of the city’s general fund.
The growth has been significant. In 2021, Fountain had just over $100,000 in IGSA contracts. That figure has grown to more than $21 million this year.
Assistant City Manager John Trylch told council members the program could reach about $52 million next year if the city is awarded two additional Department of the Army professional services contracts.
Fountain’s 2026 general fund budget is approximately $44 million. If the $52 million projection is reached, the city’s Fort Carson agreements would be worth roughly $8 million more than its entire general fund budget.
“It’s just really taken off,” Mayor Sharon Thompson said during the meeting.
A Growing Relationship With Fort Carson
Intergovernmental Support Agreements allow military installations to work directly with local governments to provide certain services that could otherwise be handled through traditional federal contracts.
Fountain’s agreements with Fort Carson now cover a variety of services, including pest control, infrastructure projects and operation of the Carson Connector, Fort Carson’s micro-transit service.
The Carson Connector also indirectly employs about 30 people through its operations.
Trylch said the largest portion of Fountain’s current contract work involves sustainability, restoration and modernization projects on Fort Carson.
The agreements also give local contractors an opportunity to compete for work connected to the military installation, potentially keeping more of the economic activity generated by Fort Carson in the surrounding community.
Agreements Generate Revenue for the City
Fountain also benefits financially from the agreements.
Once the city covers the costs of providing contracted services, some of the remaining revenue can be used for other city priorities.
Last year, Fountain used about $500,000 generated through the program to purchase a new ambulance.
The city’s 2026 budget also anticipates approximately $7.3 million in revenue from its Fort Carson agreements, showing how important the program has become to Fountain’s finances.
City Expanding Staff to Keep Up
The rapid growth of the program is prompting Fountain to change how it manages its relationship with Fort Carson and the Army.
The six positions approved Tuesday will provide dedicated staff to manage contracts, coordinate projects and pursue additional opportunities with Fort Carson and the Department of the Army.
Council members also gave city staff additional authority to pursue potential agreements without having to return to the council for formal approval of every opportunity.
Trylch said opportunities are coming up faster than the council’s normal two-week meeting schedule, meaning Fountain could miss out on projects if staff have to wait for the next council meeting before moving forward.
“This growth is really tremendous,” Trylch said.
The numbers show just how quickly the program has expanded. What began as a little more than $100,000 in agreements in 2021 has grown to more than $21 million this year, with the potential to reach $52 million next year.
For Fountain, the agreements have become an important part of its relationship with Fort Carson, creating jobs, supporting military operations, opening opportunities for local businesses and bringing additional revenue into the city.
If current projections become reality, Fountain will soon be administering partnership agreements with the U.S. Army worth more than the city’s entire annual general fund, marking a major transformation in the financial relationship between Fountain and Fort Carson.
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