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Montezuma County commissioners approve year-end budget amendments, fund transfers and appointments
Summary
At its Dec. 31 meeting the Montezuma County Board of County Commissioners approved multiple year‑end fund transfers and a budget amendment, accepted Social Services financials, signed an MOU transferring a crisis‑intervention program fiscal agent to the Town of Mancos, and made several appointments and permit approvals.
MONTEZUMA COUNTY — The Board of County Commissioners on Tuesday approved a package of year‑end financial housekeeping moves, several appointments and permits, and an agreement transferring fiscal oversight of a crisis‑intervention program to the Town of Mancos.
The board voted unanimously to accept routine items including minutes and Social Services financials, to approve several transfers between county funds, and to adopt a resolution amending the 2024 county budget. Commissioners also signed a memorandum of understanding assigning fiscal‑agent responsibilities for the county’s crisis intervention program to the Town of Mancos and approved special‑event and liquor license applications.
Why this matters: The transfers and budget amendment close out 2024 county accounts, move restricted fees into operating funds, and authorize spending for projects and services carried out in 2024. The actions also shift operational responsibility for a crisis‑intervention vehicle and equipment to a municipal partner.
Key actions and outcomes
- Minutes: The board approved proceedings from the Dec. 17, 2024 regular meeting and the Dec. 20, 2024 special meeting (motions approved unanimously).
- Social Services financials: The board accepted Social Services financials for November 2024 in the amount of $1,478,490.69 (approved unanimously).
- Transfer orders (approved unanimously): • Order No. 7 (2024): $5,000 from the sheriff’s fees fund to the general fund to correct a deposit error. • Order No. 8 (2024): $1,379,122.58 from the Law Enforcement Authority (LEA) fund to the general fund to cover LEA expenses (carryover and 2024 expenses). • Order No. 9 (2024): $44,179 from the E‑911/ETA fund to the general fund to support GIS and mapping for ETA operations. • Order No. 10 (2024): $253,147.10 from the Conservation Trust Fund to the general fund for operation of the county fairgrounds. • Internal transfer: $30,725 from road impact fees inside the Road & Bridge fund to the Road & Bridge operating account to fund the Road S Haycamp chip‑seal project (internal to the fund; no separate approval required).
- Resolution amending the 2024 budget (Resolution No. 23, 2024): The board approved an end‑of‑year cleanup that adjusts fund balances and records changes made during the year. Noted changes included an increase to the general fund of $170,159, an increase to the Road & Bridge fund of $960,250 (ROW 25 project and blades), an $87,105 addition to the lodgers tax fund, and a $344,000 landfill expense for cell 5. The board approved the resolution unanimously.
- Memorandum of understanding: The board approved an MOU transferring fiscal‑agent duties for the crisis intervention program (including a 2023 Mercedes van, radios and on‑vehicle equipment) to the Town of Mancos; the town has signed the agreement. The motion carried unanimously.
- Grant application: The board authorized submission of a Department of Homeland Security Emergency Management reimbursement application for the Office of Emergency Management in the amount of $57,103 (a 50% offset of the OEM budget). Motion approved unanimously.
- Appointments (approved unanimously): • Planning & Zoning: Reappointed Jason Armstrong (regular member) and Mike Doyle (alternate) to three‑year terms through December 2027. • Fairview Cemetery District Board: Appointed Kamie Oliver, Dean Ives and Robert Kennedy to six‑year terms.
- Liquor permits and renewals (approved unanimously): • Southwest Colorado Livestock Association: special‑event liquor permit for an event at the county fairgrounds on Feb. 8, 2025, contingent on obtaining a sales tax license before the event. • Westview RV Resort: retail liquor license renewal for the Resort at 12092 Highway 145, Dolores, Colorado.
- Executive session motions: The board voted to enter executive session for a conference with the county attorney under CRS §24‑6‑402(4)(b) to receive legal advice on specific legal questions (topics: litigation related to the Ironwood property and fencing on County Road 41). The board later voted to exit executive session; the county attorney said no decisions were made during the executive session.
Context and next steps
County staff said auditors prefer the annual budget cleanup be completed before year‑end, which is why the board considered the amendment at the Dec. 31 meeting. The transfers move restricted or project‑specific funds into operational accounts so outstanding 2024 expenses can be paid. Several actions recorded as transfers reflect revenue that had been collected for specific purposes, such as road impact fees and Conservation Trust Fund dollars for fairgrounds operations.
The MOU shifts fiscal responsibility for the crisis intervention program to the Town of Mancos; the town had already signed the MOU. The OEM grant application will proceed as a reimbursement request to the Department of Homeland Security.
No dissenting votes were recorded on the motions reflected on the agenda.
