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Pitkin County staff preview 2026 budget: plan to draw down reserves, prioritize staff retention and capital maintenance
Summary
Pitkin County staff told commissioners they expect to draw down general‑fund and capital reserves in 2026 to cover scheduled equipment and facility replacements, airport staffing cash‑flow timing and higher capital maintenance costs.
Pitkin County staff presented a high‑level preview of the 2026 proposed budget and five‑year outlook, advising commissioners that the county will likely spend down a portion of its unassigned general fund and capital reserves next year to cover scheduled replacements, infrastructure maintenance and timing differences tied to airport projects.
Connie Baker, budget director, and deputy county manager Kara Silver‑Naugle said staff projects the county will close 2025 with roughly $15 million in unassigned general‑fund balance and about $1.3 million in the capital fund. Staff’s preliminary plan would spend roughly $7 million across the general and capital funds in 2026, largely for scheduled equipment and facility replacements, the start of previously approved capital projects and positions associated with the airport project.
The county is budgeting for several sizable one‑time…
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