Rio Blanco County commissioners approve 2025 tax levies, appoint county attorney and back BLM lease; send wolf-depredation letter

The Board of County Commissioners of Rio Blanco County met and on motion approved a series of budget, personnel and contract actions, including property tax levies for county operations and pest-control districts, the appointment of a general county attorney and several vendor and personnel agreements.

The meeting opened with Speaker 5 calling the session to order and Speaker 4 leading the Pledge of Allegiance. Early on, Speaker 4 moved to adopt Resolution 2025-302, appropriating additional sums to cover expenses in excess of budgeted amounts for the 2025 budget year; the motion was seconded and approved on a roll call.

Why it matters: The commissioners also voted to set the county mill levy for the 2026 budget year. "The mill levy so certified is 9.05 mills and will generate $6,535,350.98 when applied to the 2025 valuation," Speaker 4 said when presenting Resolution 2025-33. The board approved that levy and separate 2-mill levies for the Piance Creek and Lower White River pest control districts (estimated at $120,150.50 and $157,038.28 on the 2025…