Fremont County adopts 2025–26 budget; library allocation set at $1.25 million, two library board appointments approved

The Fremont County Board of Commissioners on Thursday adopted the county'wide fiscal 2025'26 budget after multiweek hearings, approving a $1,251,547 allocation for the Fremont County Library and confirming two new library board appointees.

County officials said updated revenue projections and internal adjustments allowed the board to reach the numbers presented at the adoption vote, which passed by voice vote; the transcript records no roll-call tally. The commission also approved a separate Wind River visitor services budget and recorded several operational funding clarifications for the library.

Commission staff and department representatives described a yearlong scenario process in which departments prepared reduction options to meet a requested $300,000 cut. Jim (county finance staff) told the commission that updated revenue estimates added roughly $420,000 in new revenue across departments, raising general fund revenue projections to about $17,533,000 (separate from property taxes). The finance presentation and subsequent discussion framed the commission'wide adoption.

Anita (library representative) told the commission the library prepared multiple scenarios and worked to avoid service cuts. "We really don't wanna cut this," Anita said, describing efforts to preserve services and find alternative revenue. The library reported an updated approved budget figure of $1,351,555 (prior baseline), and staff explained the adopted net allocation of $1,251,547 reflects a combination of $200,000 in newly identified revenue, a $100,000 reduction in library expenditures, and internal accounting for salary adjustments (SOC)

The board also confirmed two appointments to the library board that had been tallied earlier in the meeting: Karen Wentzel and David Mossberg. The commission named Katie Shaddis as an alternate in case legal conflict-of-interest questions make either appointment problematic; commissioners said they would seek legal input if needed. The transcript records the appointment announcement, a motion to accept the slate, and a voice vote: "Aye. Motion passed."

Commissioners and library staff clarified the status and intended use of an existing interest/collection account created with Senate File 60 money. Commissioners noted the board previously authorized a $100,000 distribution from that fund for operations (a change from the fund's original collection-development purpose). Commissioners emphasized the action authorized this year was for operating expenses only, not for collection development; the transcript records multiple participants saying the motion and vote earlier this month had been for operations. Anita and other staff explained the board may still vote later to distribute funds for collection development if the governing board elects to do so, but any such distribution would be a separate decision.

The commission discussed and agreed to place $15,000 in the budget for interim/contract supervision for progr ams (divided $7,500 to CAST and $7,500 to JTC) to cover clinical oversight while searching for a permanent director. Commissioners said they would still negotiate contract terms and an MOU before awarding funds.

Other budget points discussed at the meeting included: - Mineral stabilization and other reserve funds: commissioners reviewed a mineral stabilization balance and discussed using portions over the next 10 years; staff said some funds are already earmarked for multiyear distribution. - Economic development and LATC/ARPA balances: commissioners noted roughly $2.5 million in LATC-type funds and discussed using up to $500,000 of economic development funds to backfill general fund reductions (no final action recorded at the meeting). - Revenue updates: the clerk, treasurer and sheriff's offices reported higher-than-anticipated fee and grant revenue for the coming year; staff described the revenue updates as conservative but materially helpful to the adopted budget.

In final business, a motion to adopt the fiscal 2025'26 budget "as stated today" passed by voice vote; the transcript records the motion, a second and the approving "Aye." Commissioners separately approved the Wind River visitors budget and other agency items by motion and voice vote.

The board and staff said the adopted budget represented a compromise between service preservation and countywide reductions: commissioners repeatedly noted the adopted plan still contains uncertainty and asked departments to continue scenario planning for next year, when officials warned revenues could be worse.

Votes at a glance: the transcript records the following formal outcomes by voice vote (no roll-call tallies recorded in the provided transcript): the appointment of Karen Wentzel and David Mossberg to the Fremont County Library Board (Katie Shaddis named alternate); adoption of the county'wide FY2025'26 budget as presented; approval of the Wind River Visitors budget. Each vote is recorded in the transcript as passed by voice vote.