Crook County budget committee adopts $132.2 million proposed budget, approves levy

The Crook County Budget Committee voted unanimously Thursday to approve a proposed $132,182,000 county budget for fiscal 2026 and to levy property taxes at a total rate of $4.0672 per $1,000 of assessed value, including $3.8702 for operating and $0.197 for debt service.

Why it matters: The vote puts in place a one-year spending plan county leaders say is conservative amid economic uncertainty, rising insurance and personnel costs, and an ongoing property-tax refund appeal. Committee members also asked staff to return this fall with a plan on core services and long-term funding options to address recurring shortfalls, especially in public safety.

County Manager Will Van Bacter laid out the proposed budget as a cautious plan aimed at preserving essential services while repositioning the county for longer-term sustainability. "This year's budget was developed in a context of economic uncertainty, continued organizational restructuring, and rising expectations for public transparency," Will said in his presentation. He reported the total proposed budget includes $66.8 million in appropriations, $25.0 million in contingency and $40.5 million in reserves, with a general fund of $25.1 million.

The committee recorded a series of votes during the hearing. Early procedural motions named Bill Anderson as committee chair and Scott Tibbs as vice chair. At the meeting's close the committee approved the budget "as proposed in the amount of $132,182,000," and approved the tax levy for 2026; both motions passed unanimously.

Committee members and presenters highlighted the biggest drivers of the plan: a net reduction of 21.27 FTEs (a roughly 8.8% headcount reduction), but a $2.5 million increase in personnel costs tied to cost-of-living adjustments and insurance increases; a capital outlay decline tied to completion of the Justice Center; continued investment in an enterprise resource planning (ERP) rollout; and contingency planning to cover potential refunds related to a Department of Revenue appeal. The manager said the six strategic goals adopted by the commission earlier this year guided department budgets: service to the community, financial sustainability, collaborative culture, quality of life and safety, improved communications and future facility planning.

Committee members pressed staff for more detail on long-term funding options and core service levels for major departments. "If we want to develop a truly sustainable budget in the sheriff's office...we need agreement on what the expected level of service is," Will said during the staff Q&A. In response, the committee asked staff to return in the fall with a more detailed core-services analysis across departments and options for how to fund those services.

Next steps: The committee set a follow-up meeting for Oct. 23 to review service-level options, additional fiscal analysis and recommended next steps for addressing structural shortfalls. The manager and finance director said they will bring refined revenue projections and options for the committee and commissioners to evaluate before any decisions about supplemental funding or a ballot measure.

The committee’s formal actions recorded during the meeting included votes to: appoint Bill Anderson as committee chair and Scott Tibbs as vice chair; approve the FY2026 budget as proposed; and levy property taxes for 2026 at $3.8702 per $1,000 for operating and $0.197 per $1,000 for debt service. All votes were unanimous.

The committee emphasized that the adoption is for the FY2026 operating plan and that staff will continue to update projections as more data (including the outcome of the Department of Revenue appeal and updated property values) becomes available.