Garfield County launches 2026 budget kickoff after assessor snapshot shows $9 million shortfall

Garfield County budget staff on Monday told the Board of County Commissioners that an early property-tax projection from the county assessor shows a roughly $9 million reduction in revenue for 2026, prompting commissioners to direct staff to pursue a hiring freeze, seek a 5% reduction in operating budgets, and reconvene work sessions to pare the capital plan and discretionary grants.

"This is your budget," Fred, the county budget officer, said during the work session, stressing that the board's direction at the kickoff will guide department requests and the finance team's preparations. Shari Neurath, the county budget manager, and Jamaica Watts of the finance team walked the board through the calendar, deadlines and key assumptions the county will use for the six-month budget process.

The nut of the presentation was revenue pressure. Fred said the county assessor's preliminary snapshot shows a 19% reduction in assessed property value, which “equates to about a $9,000,000 delta” in revenue the county must address in planning the 2026 operating budget. Staff told commissioners the assessor will provide a more refined certification on Aug. 25, which the finance team will use before department reviews in September.

Why this matters: property tax accounts for roughly half of Garfield County's general revenue, so a multi-million-dollar decline requires choices among operations, capital projects,…