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Taos County finance staff report Q1 shortfalls; general fund to cover several deficits
Summary
Finance staff told commissioners the county’s first-quarter report showed multiple fund shortfalls after a June cyberattack shifted payables into Q1; public works, senior programs and ADC/jail funds were flagged for transfers from the general fund.
Taos County finance staff presented the first-quarter fiscal report for fiscal year 2025–26 on Nov. 18, warning of revenue shortfalls in several departmental funds and noting the general fund would likely be used to cover deficits.
Finance presenter Emily Elliott said that a cyberattack in June pushed payables into the first quarter, producing an unusual spike in expenditures. She reported the county closed the quarter with approximately $12.6 million in cash, but several funds — including public works, senior programs, indigent services and ADC/jail — showed deficits and will require transfers or other adjustments.
Elliott gave department-level detail: gross receipts tax (GRT) revenue for the general fund was at about 19% year-to-date, motor vehicle registration and gasoline-tax receipts trailed expectations, and Title III and certain federal grant reimbursements were lower than budgeted. She said public-works revenues were underperforming and the department may need larger general-fund transfers than in prior years.
Commissioners pressed staff for causes and next steps. Commissioner Behel and others asked whether recouping countywide GRT would be sufficient to restore fund balances; Elliott said recoupment would help but recommended a deeper review of motor-vehicle registration trends and federal grant variability. On funding for senior programs, Elliott said federal reimbursements for aging services had dropped markedly and the county will watch those programs closely.
“[The $46.16 payment from federal grants] — that’s like an insult,” Commissioner Behel said of one item cited for the senior program shortfall, underscoring frustration with federal funding volatility.
Why it matters: The presentation outlined structural budgeting pressures that could affect service levels and require transfers from the general fund. Commissioners asked for further analysis and scheduled follow-ups, with an emphasis on close monitoring of jail, EMS, public works and senior service funding.
Finance reported year-end cash and projections to the board and offered to provide further breakdowns and a follow-up discussion in future work sessions.
