Ken-Caryl board opens 2026 budget hearing, continues public comment to Dec. 9
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Summary
Ken-Caryl Metropolitan District staff presented the proposed 2026 budget — including a 3% cost-of-living adjustment, merit bonuses, and fee changes — telling the board the district expects a little over $7 million in revenue. The board opened the hearing, heard detailed public questions, and voted to continue the hearing to Dec. 9, 2025.
Ken-Caryl Metropolitan District officials opened a public hearing on the proposed 2026 budget at their Nov. 11, 2025, board meeting and agreed to continue the hearing to Dec. 9 for further community input.
District staff told the board the district expects total revenue "a little over $7,000,000" next year, with property taxes accounting for roughly 60% of that revenue. Staff described a set of personnel proposals that include a 3% cost-of-living adjustment, a three-tier merit bonus program for top performers (tiers starting at $500 and rising to $1,500), and a lifeguard incentive designed to keep pools open: guards who work at least 250 hours in season and remain in good standing would receive an extra $2 per hour. Staff also proposed modest fee increases (camp fees about 8%), changes to preschool and before/after-care pricing, and passing credit-card processing fees to registrants; staff said processing costs previously cost the district "just under $100,000 a year."
On the tax side, staff walked the board through a 2024 state house bill that creates a new revenue cap (staff described the allowable increase as 5.25% from the prior high-revenue assessment cycle) and said current district mill rates fall below the cap for 2026. Staff cautioned the law is complex, DOLA (the Department of Local Affairs) guidance remains evolving and the district will continue to monitor state direction. "DOLA did put something out on their website finally, and it has very big bold. This is not a guarantee," staff said when summarizing available guidance.
Members of the public asked for more detail in the draft budget packet. Longtime resident Rilla Reinsma requested itemized explanations for "materials and supplies" and "purchased services," separate line-item amounts for the Ranch House mechanical/office improvements and Dakota Lodge paving/drainage, counts of staff in aquatics/recreation/preschool, and an explanation of a line labeled "KCRMA overhead and contributions." Reinsma’s comments prompted staff to say they would provide more detailed breakdowns.
After public comment, the board voted to continue the public hearing on the proposed 2026 budget to Dec. 9, 2025, giving staff time to supply additional detail to the community and the board.
Votes at a glance: The board opened the hearing by voice vote, and later approved a motion to continue the public hearing to Dec. 9, 2025 (chair reported vote as 5–0).