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County budget team warns FY26 will rely heavily on fund balance; commissioners told reserve may fall below policy targets
Summary
Budget officials told the El Paso County Commissioners Court that the FY26 draft budget relies heavily on fund balance, leaving a projected reserve of roughly 4.7% if current certified revenue estimates hold, short of county targets.
El Paso County budget officials on Thursday provided a third-quarter financial update and an early look at the proposed fiscal year 2026 budget, warning commissioners that the draft would rely heavily on fund balance and showing a projected reserve below the county's policy goal.
Budget and financial staff said revenues for FY25 through June were roughly $343 million collected year-to-date (about 89.5% of the year's estimate) with year-to-date expenditures around $282 million. The county's proposed FY26 general-fund budget totals roughly $469 million, with recommended personnel spending at approximately $314.7 million. Staff said those figures reflect several adjustments from FY25 and that operating restorations cut last year remain incomplete.
Why it matters: County staff told the court the FY26 draft uses an estimated 73% of the projected FY25 fund balance…
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