Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Trt Audit And Budget topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Grand County schedules urgent budget workshop after state auditor flags TRT uses
Summary
After a state audit found transient room tax (TRT) money was used for non‑promotional Trail Ambassador activities, the county auditor recommended action and commissioners scheduled a May 27 budget workshop to address compliance and 2025 funding shortfalls.
Grand County commissioners scheduled an expedited budget workshop after county finance staff identified past TRT expenditures that the state auditor found noncompliant.
County Auditor Gabe (last name in transcript) told the commission he confirmed that $182,000 previously classified as TRT promotion had actually paid for Trail Ambassador activities that the state auditor considers unallowable in the promotional fund. The auditor asked the commission to open the budget and take corrective action to restore and reclassify affected funds.
Why it matters: Transient room tax revenues (TRT) come with statutory restrictions. The state auditor’s accepted findings require the county to restore promotion accounts and ensure future compliance — a step county auditors said is urgent because the prior interpretation of allowable uses was incorrect and because the county must maintain eligibility for future grant and TRT programs.
What the county will do: The commission agreed to a special budget workshop to discuss TRT compliance, funding shortfalls, and unplanned 2025 expenses. Commissioners set the workshop for May 27, starting at 8:30 a.m. and scheduled to run until 11:30 a.m. County staff said they will prepare updated revenue projections, a breakdown of reserve accounts and proposed amendment language so the commission can consider corrective transfers or other remedies.
Public comment and concern: Multiple speakers during the citizens’ portion urged immediate action. One caller who identified herself as Liv said she had researched Trail Ambassador funding and warned that the county “is using funds that it’s not intended for,” and argued that TRT pay for promotional activities, not routine trail maintenance or personnel on federal land. Another commenter, Lehi Jackson, said the county must manage reserves carefully and avoid measures that would force property tax increases.
Commissioners’ views: Commissioners acknowledged earlier confusion over the state auditor’s language and the timing of steps taken during the budget process last winter. Several commissioners called for transparency and quick remedial steps; the county auditor apologized for the misunderstanding and recommended the formal workshop and a process to amend the budget and to seek clarification from the state auditor for any future use of TRT tied to recreation, film and convention funding.
Ending: The county will hold the targeted budget workshop on May 27 with staff materials to explain the revenue shortfall, the auditor’s findings and proposed corrective actions. The commission said it expects to begin a formal budget‑amendment process in subsequent meetings and to coordinate with the state auditor’s office on any actions involving TRT funds.
