Carmen Arrieta, El Paso County’s director of budget and finance, presented the court’s first update on the FY2026 budget during the Nov. 20 special session, including revenue composition, expenditure tracking and near‑term management priorities.

Arrieta said the county adopted a total budget of $635,665,000, with a general fund budget of $495,486,000. She described current year revenues of roughly $415,579,000 comprised largely of property tax ($284,710,000) and about $84,000,000 of sales tax. Through October the county had received a small share of annual revenue and staff will produce a financial meter to show spend‑down and availability of funds.

Looking ahead, the budget office plans 3–5 year forecasts, is reviewing opportunities to increase indirect cost recovery from grants, and will analyze personnel cost scenarios (including potential COLA options) with HR for FY2027. Arrieta also noted the need to account for operating costs of new bond projects when they come online and to close out American Rescue Plan projects currently holding approximately $32,000,000 in that fund.

The county auditor reported the FY24 audit work is underway with an expected completion by March 31. Commissioners praised the forward‑looking approach and asked for additional disaggregated personnel cost figures, which staff said would be available next month.