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Gilpin County presents $34.4 million draft budget, refers lodging-tax increase to voters
Summary
County staff presented a draft 2026 budget that forecasts $34,427,092 in revenue, outlines $39.4 million in proposed expenditures, and includes a November ballot measure to raise the lodging tax from 2% to 6% to fund infrastructure, housing and child care; final adoption is scheduled for Dec. 15.
Gilpin County staff on Sept. 23 presented a draft 2026 budget to the Board of County Commissioners that projects $34,427,092 in total revenue and $39,373,238 in expenditures and asks voters in November whether to raise the county lodging tax from 2% to 6% to fund infrastructure maintenance, housing and tourism-related workforce needs.
County manager Rares and finance staff described the draft during the formal handoff to the board. “The total anticipated revenue for 2026 is $34,427,092,” finance staff said during the presentation. The packet shows gaming revenue and intergovernmental funding as the largest revenue sources and a conservative approach to projections because of macroeconomic uncertainty.
The county said gaming receipts remain the single largest revenue source but are declining: staff reported $16,201,381 this year and projected gaming-related revenue of roughly $15.1 million for 2026. Property-tax revenue was projected at about $5.6 million. The draft…
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