Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the County Budget 2026 topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Garfield County presents 2026 proposed budget with $10.5 million net drawdown; hearings set through Oct. 21
Summary
County budget staff presented a $136 million proposed 2026 budget that would draw $10.5 million from reserves, leaving operational side about $3.3 million short; commissioners begin public hearings Oct. 7 and will continue Oct. 14 and Oct. 21.
Garfield County budget staff on Monday presented the proposed 2026 budget to the Board of County Commissioners, laying out a $136 million plan that, as presented, would draw down county reserves by about $10.5 million.
Budget officer Fred (budget officer) told the commissioners that the county faces three main pressures in 2026: a steep decline in property tax revenue tied to lower oil-and-gas production and recent changes in state law; increases in health-insurance costs that staff negotiated down from an initial 13.5% quote to a 2.56% net increase; and continued inflation and rising costs for capital projects and services. “The budget is more than the county’s financial plan. It's your authority to act,
