Pitkin commissioners approve 2025 budget and levy on first reading; mill levy emergency resolution passed

Pitkin County presented its final 2025 budget to the Board of County Commissioners on Dec. 10 and advanced two emergency resolutions required by state timelines: adoption of the 2025 budget and appropriation of funds, and a separate emergency resolution levying general property taxes for 2024 to fund fiscal year 2025 operations.

County finance staff described the final budget as conservatively projected with healthy fund balances and a strong balance sheet. Major priorities in the 2025 budget include recruitment and retention (a wage pool increased from 5% to 6%), preservation of employee benefits with a 5% employee contribution increase for health insurance, and substantial investments in housing and climate initiatives. The budget package included a newly created housing property‑tax fund that is projected to generate about $8.5 million per year for housing partnerships and programs.

Staff noted capital investments across county assets, including landfill expansion planning, airport pavement work and planning, bridge and road maintenance projects and a new dispatch center shell design. The packet also showed a total budget and appropriations figure to comply with state procedural requirements: staff explained the budgeted expenditures totaled roughly $263 million while the resolution reflects a total appropriation of about $281.4 million after accounting for federal grants and adjustments.

Connie (county finance staff) presented the mill‑levy schedule and noted that most county funds are constrained by TABOR and other statutory or charter limits; four funds — open space and trails, Redstone Ranch Acres, the ambulance district and the new housing property tax fund — are exempt from some limitations. The county’s assessed valuation for 2024 was reported at approximately $5.6 billion, a small decline year‑over‑year in a non‑revaluation year; staff said the net property‑tax levy with the new housing fund produces approximately $56 million in property‑tax revenues for 2025.

Commissioner Steve moved to approve, on first reading, the emergency resolution adopting the 2025 budget and appropriation of funds; the motion carried on a voice vote and the resolution was set for confirmatory hearing and second reading on Dec. 18. The board then voted to approve the companion emergency resolution levying property tax for 2024 to fund fiscal year 2025. Commissioners noted remaining concerns about some new full‑time equivalent (FTE) positions and the county fleet mix, but supported advancing the measures to the required public hearing.

Both emergency resolutions were approved on first reading and will return for a required second reading and public hearing on Dec. 18. The board also held a short special meeting to adopt the related procedural motions and adjourn.