Montezuma County adopts 2025 budget, levies 14.254 mills and approves appropriations

Montezuma County commissioners on Dec. 17 adopted the county's 2025 budget, approved appropriations across departments and set property tax mill levies for the coming year.

The board voted to adopt Resolution No. 15-2024 (the 2025 budget) and Resolution No. 16-2024 (appropriations). County finance staff said the budget anticipates drawing roughly $1.7 million from reserves and showed revenues lower than expenditures. "Revenues are anticipated at $14,000,000,587, 580. Expenditures are 16,000,000,319 230," said Travis (finance staff) during the presentation. Commissioners approved the budget and appropriations by unanimous voice vote.

The board then set the county's mill levies with Resolution No. 17-2024: the county general at 10.588 mills, social services at 1.05 mills and the road and bridge levy at 2.616 mills for a combined 14.254 mills. Separately, the law enforcement authority levy was set at 1.450 mills (Resolution No. 18-2024).

Travis walked commissioners through department-level changes presented in the budget materials: overall countywide funds were listed at $50,098,768; commissioners' office budget showed an increase driven by statutory salary increases and professional services; the clerk's office decreased about 3.6% (tech and postage reductions); the assessor's office decreased 11.92% due to elimination of a budgeted full-time position; planning increased 5.56% mainly for salaries; IT decreased about 8.5% after moving certain countywide software costs back to the sheriff's budget for visibility.

On public safety, county staff noted the sheriff's office represents roughly 42.8% of the general fund. The sheriff and jail budgets were discussed in detail: detention personnel received a range of increases in 2024, and the 2025 budget includes selective cost-of-living adjustments; the jail food budget was raised by $30,000 and some line items were reallocated. The board approved separate budget resolutions for the Montezuma County E-911 Authority (Resolution No. 19-2024) and for the Montezuma County Law Enforcement Authority (Resolution No. 20-2024), which includes a transfer of LEA funds into the sheriff's budget.

Commissioners opened the budget presentation for public comment; no members of the public spoke. Several commissioners and staff exchanged technical questions about department-level changes before final votes.

Votes at a glance

- Resolution No. 15-2024: Adopting 2025 budget – approved (voice vote). Tally: yes 3, no 0, abstain 0. - Resolution No. 16-2024: Appropriating sums for 2025 – approved (voice vote). Tally: yes 3, no 0, abstain 0. - Resolution No. 17-2024: Levying general property taxes (county, social services, road & bridge) – approved (voice vote). Tally: yes 3, no 0, abstain 0. - Resolution No. 18-2024: Levying property tax for Law Enforcement Authority (1.450 mills) – approved (voice vote). Tally: yes 3, no 0, abstain 0. - Resolution No. 19-2024: Adopting E-911 Authority budget – approved (voice vote). Tally: yes 3, no 0, abstain 0. - Resolution No. 20-2024: Adopting Law Enforcement Authority budget (includes LEA transfer to sheriff) – approved (voice vote). Tally: yes 3, no 0, abstain 0.

Commissioners and staff said department-level appropriations are set by category (permanent salaries, operations, capital) and that any future unanticipated expenses beyond those appropriations would require a budget amendment. Finance staff said countywide monitoring will continue through year-end to determine whether a supplemental adjustment will be needed to avoid overspending the general fund.

The board closed the public hearing after votes and moved on to other business.