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Garfield County Commission approves adjusted 2025 budget and adopts proposed 2026 budget after public hearings
Summary
At a regularly scheduled Garfield County Commission meeting, commissioners held public hearings on the 2025 and 2026 budgets, adopted an adjusted 2025 budget and approved the proposed 2026 budget by voice vote after public comment and staff explanations about assessed-value-driven tax changes and a 3% cost-of-living increase.
The Garfield County Commission held public hearings and approved the county's fiscal plans, adopting an adjusted 2025 budget and approving the proposed 2026 budget by voice vote.
During the hearing on the adjusted 2025 budget, resident Harsa Desai raised concerns about county salary-setting and alleged conflicts of interest in how employee pay is determined. "Garfield County is in a violation of a 17 dash 16 dash 14 for decades," Desai said during public comment, urging an independent review of salaries and performance systems. Commissioners acknowledged the comment and said staff would follow up.
On the 2026 proposal, county staff and commissioners said the change in tax bills reflected reassessed property values rather than a decision by the commission to raise rates. A county official noted the proposed budget includes a 3% cost-of-living adjustment for employees and elected officials. "We have never done that," one commissioner said when describing the commission's approach to tax increases, emphasizing the county's long-standing goal of operating without debt.
After taking public comment and answering questions, a commissioner moved to adopt the adjusted 2025 budget "as presented," and the commission approved the motion by voice vote. Later, after a separate public hearing and discussion about assessed-value impacts and operating priorities, the commission voted to approve the proposed 2026 budget by voice vote.
Votes at a glance - Motion to adopt the adjusted 2025 budget: moved and seconded; approved by voice vote (all present responded "aye"). - Motion to open and close public hearings for 2026 and to adopt the 2026 budget: moved and seconded; approved by voice vote. - Other routine approvals at the meeting (business license, selection of engineering firm, board appointment) are summarized below and recorded in the meeting minutes.
What happens next Commissioners said staff will continue posting materials and answer individual inquiries; they also committed to follow up on public comments about salary-setting and to make information available for residents who asked about the tax changes and how assessed values factored into individual bills.
