Crook County adopts investment policy and approves modest fiscal policy changes; staff asked to draft debt policy

Crook County commissioners voted on Jan. 7 to adopt the county’s annual investment policy and to approve modest revisions to fiscal policies for fiscal year 2027. The changes are primarily editorial and clarify fiscal planning for landfill operations, allowing annual adjustments tied to inflation and post‑closure liability estimates.

Finance Director Christina (identified in the record) told commissioners that state law requires local governments that invest in securities with maturities longer than 18 months to adopt an investment policy annually. She said the county’s policy was reviewed by investment advisers and is in compliance; the only immediate change was updating the policy year to 2026.

County Manager Will Van Vactor presented two specific fiscal policy edits; he described the recommended landfill language as aligning county policy with Department of Environmental Quality reporting and improving realistic long‑term planning. He also said the finance committee recommended developing a standalone comprehensive debt policy to define when the county should use debt, establish affordability metrics and repayment guidelines, and ensure compliance with disclosure standards.

Commissioners voted to adopt the investment policy and to approve the fiscal policy amendments. Van Vactor asked the board to confirm whether they wanted staff to draft a debt policy framework; commissioners generally signaled support and directed staff to develop a draft framework for later discussion. Van Vactor said the committee that reviewed the policies included Steve Forrester and Galen Carter and that the redline revisions are modest.

The board did not adopt a debt policy at the meeting; staff will return with a draft framework for future consideration and possible public review as part of the budget planning process.