Greeley County adopts 2023-24 budget and sets property tax request; county general levy falls slightly

The Greeley County Board of Commissioners adopted the 2023-24 county budget at a public hearing on Sept. 12, 2023, and later set the county's final property tax request.

At the Sept. 12 hearing the board reviewed the county's preliminary estimates and accepted public comment before adopting the budget (Resolution 2023-13). County staff and outside accounting advisors were on hand to answer technical questions about revenues and appropriations.

On Sept. 26 the board conducted a separate public hearing on the property tax request and adopted Resolution 2023-15 setting the county's property tax request at $2,283,446 for fiscal 2023-24. That adoption translated to a county general fund levy of 0.215975 per $100 of assessed value versus a higher hypothetical rate that would have been needed to raise the same dollar amount as the prior year. County staff certified the request on schedule and filed required documents with state authorities.

Treasurer Mary McGuire and county finance staff presented pledged collateral and other fiscal housekeeping items during the fall meetings, and the board approved several routine transfers and monthly claims across meetings. The board also approved multiple capital and road-related expenditures in 2023, including bridge and road bids, heavy equipment purchases and a Sourcewell/CAT motor grader purchase that will be delivered under contract.

The board emphasized that annual budget and levy decisions are part of routine county governance and noted that the NextEra wind project decision earlier in the year was handled separately as a land-use/permit matter with its own fiscal implications for the county and local taxing entities.

The adopted budget and tax-request documentation are available through the county clerk's office and county records for public review.