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Fremont County reports stronger-than-budget sales-tax receipts; clerk and elections updates offered
Summary
Budget finance officer Sean Sutton reported retail and auto-use sales tax receipts slightly above budget for 2025; county clerk presented August collections and election preparations; county administrator reviewed job openings, bridge repairs and an October airport event.
Fremont County budget finance officer Sean Sutton told the Board of County Commissioners on a September meeting that retail sales and auto-use sales tax receipts for 2025 remain ahead of budget even as year-to-date figures compare variably with 2024.
Sutton said retail sales tax collections allocated to the general fund totaled $893,565 for the month reported and that year-to-date retail collections were $5,469,784, about $569,784 above the adopted budget though $12,733 below the same point in 2024. He said auto-use sales tax for August totaled $144,936 and year-to-date auto-use collections were $1,007,911, about $31,088 higher than 2024 and ahead of budget.
County Clerk reported total motor vehicle fees, sales tax and recording fees collected in August were $1,374,571.63, with Fremont County's disbursement portion $745,593.96 (about 54 percent of the total). The clerk said the office is up about $211,497 year to date and reviewed upcoming election-related timing: overseas/military (UOCAVA) ballots have been mailed, sample ballots are posted online, mail ballots will be printed and mailed in October, and five drop-box locations will be available for ballots when they open later in October.
County Administrator Tony Carocci provided operational updates including current county job postings (sheriff and public‑works positions with varied closing dates), a temporary public-health records schedule at Garden Park, and a brief schedule for bridge repairs on County Road 142 east of Florence (road closed for through traffic Monday, Sept. 29 through Thursday, Oct. 2, dates subject to weather).
Commissioners and staff also discussed 2026 budget planning. Commissioners noted uncertainty in next year’s property‑tax collections and said they are budgeting conservatively; the budget draft is expected to be posted to the county website by November and will include a public hearing before adoption.
The board approved routine agenda items, the consent agenda, and a motion accepting the county clerk’s monthly report by roll-call vote.
Why it matters: Sales-tax receipts are a key revenue source for Fremont County operations. Staff and elected officials said current collections exceed the budget forecast, which gives short-term flexibility, but commissioners emphasized caution in 2026 budget planning given potential changes in property‑tax collections and federal payment‑in‑lieu‑of‑taxes (PILT) funding.
