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San Miguel County posts draft 2026 budget; unexpected $1.8M use‑tax improves position
Summary
County staff presented a draft 2026 budget that narrows a previous $792,000 shortfall to about $58,055 after revised revenue projections and an unexpected $1.8 million use‑tax payment tied to the '4 Seasons' project. Commissioners discussed holding reserves for capital needs, staffing, and housing projects.
San Miguel County commissioners reviewed a revised draft of the countyand Solid Waste Disposal District 2026 budgets on Nov. 19, with staff saying updated revenues and several expenditure adjustments have sharply improved the countyfinancial picture.
County staff introduced the draft and described the process, noting the county will receive its final certification of value in early December and expects to adopt the final budget at the Dec. 10 meeting. ‘‘We dont anticipate significant revisions between now and then,’’ staff said, while flagging a few large dollar influences and realized savings that are already included.
Key changes in the draft include personnel savings after the county reached fuller staffing levels across departments; staff cautioned that such savings may not continue at the same rate in 2026. The draft also adds several one‑time or revised items: increased reimbursements for elections and GIS aerial mapping (which town partners will help offset), inclusion of a CDOT TAP grant for the Lawson Hill Trail project, modest increases for solar maintenance and park bid adjustments, and a $50,000 cushion for the public health fund.
A notable one‑time revenue was an unexpected $1,800,000 payment tied to the 4 Seasons project. Staff said that payment grows the county's beginning fund balance and improves the net position from an earlier projected deficit of roughly $792,000 to about a $58,055 shortfall across all funds in the draft. "We didn't know we were going to get it," staff said, adding the money was not planned for 2025 spending and thus bolsters reserves.
Staff summarized other line‑item changes, including moving $75,000 of planned SIP (crisis intervention) funding into another department because the program will not ramp up early in the year. The draft also reflects community support funding decisions that reduced general fund expenditures by $77,004.26 compared with the original budget.
Commissioners discussed the use of fund balances for planned capital projects, including three housing projects under consideration (sheriffoffice site, Deep Creek, and Pathfinder) and potential purchases such as an east‑end gravel pit and facility maintenance needs at the Miramani building. "That helps explain why the fund balances make a lot of sense," one commissioner said, urging continued attention to matching reserves with long‑term capital plans.
The public hearing on the draft budget was opened and closed with no speakers. Staff asked members of the public to submit any additional written feedback before the Dec. 10 adoption meeting.
Whathappens next: staff will refine the final draft before the Dec. 10 meeting, when the board is expected to consider adoption and mill levy certification later in December.
