Summit County officials are gearing up for the 2025 budget season, with discussions underway about potential revenue strategies to address increasing service demands and budgetary pressures. During a recent County Council meeting on May 1, 2024, the council highlighted the urgency of preparing for the upcoming budget cycle, emphasizing the need to meet legislative deadlines and explore new funding avenues.

The county's current budget strategy has relied on fund balances to support operations, a method deemed unsustainable moving forward. Council members noted that the 2024 budget was balanced using approximately $5.25 million from fund balances, but this approach cannot continue without significant cuts to services. With pressures from community programs for enhanced services, the council is considering several options to generate necessary revenue.

Among the primary strategies discussed were increasing property taxes through a truth-in-taxation process, which could potentially raise over $6 million, and implementing new sales taxes aimed at mitigating the impacts of tourism. Recent legislative changes allow Summit County to impose a rural hospital sales tax of up to 1% on certain transactions, which could generate an estimated $11.8 million. This revenue could alleviate funding pressures on essential services like search and rescue, law enforcement, and solid waste disposal.

The council also explored the possibility of lobbying for changes to existing tax structures, such as the resort community tax and the transient room tax, which could provide additional funding sources. These discussions are critical as the county anticipates a budget exceeding $90 million for 2025, driven by inflation and increased service demands.

As the council prepares for the management team meeting in June, they aim to finalize their approach to the budget, ensuring that they can continue to meet the needs of residents and visitors alike. The decisions made in the coming months will significantly impact the county's ability to provide essential services and respond to community needs.