Dolores trustees adopt conservative 2026 budget, certify temporary mill levy decrease and approve sheriff contract

The Dolores Board of Trustees on Dec. 8 adopted a budget focused on infrastructure priorities and approved a temporary reduction in the town’s mill levy, while also finalizing a sheriff services contract and several program contracts.

The board approved the 2026 budget after a public hearing and several workshops. Treasurer Kelly told trustees the town used conservative assumptions — projecting revenue up about 3% and raising projected expenditures 5% — and emphasized that timing of grant reimbursements had driven large monthly swings: “we had the 398,000 come in. We had 328,000 of that go out,” she said, explaining the apparent change in the town’s cash flow.

Why it matters: trustees said the budget prioritizes water-system reliability, street maintenance and public facilities and is deliberately conservative to avoid late-year shortfalls.

Mill levy: In a separate public hearing the board certified a temporary mill levy of 8.43 mills to comply with statutory limits on year-to-year tax growth. Town staff explained how assessed values and state limits affect the calculation, noting the temporary nature of the reduction and that the town may return toward a 10-mill ceiling if permitted by statute next year. The board approved Resolution R 673 by roll call (Trustees Wheeler, Curry, Peterson, Grigg, Youngquist, Rome and Mayor Holston voted yes).

Sheriff contract: Trustees approved Resolution R 663 to enter a contract for sheriff services that the town described as one position at 40 hours per week for $143,000. Town manager explained that county and town attorneys negotiated the contract language and removed a redundant indemnity clause; the board approved the measure by roll call and staff said the county will sign the agreement the following day.

Other adopted measures: the board also approved Resolution R 684 to move forward with the F&M Construction contract for the Fishing & Spawn grant (work expected to start Jan. 5 with a four-to-six-week field period) and Resolution R 683 authorizing the Dolores Family Project to use a town parcel for a donated food-shed structure.

Votes at a glance: - R 673 (Temporary mill levy certification, 8.43 mills) — approved by roll call; yes: Wheeler, Curry, Peterson, Grigg, Holston, Youngquist, Rome. - R 674 (Adopt 2026 budget) — approved by roll call; unanimous yes. - R 663 (Sheriff contract; one 40-hour deputy, $143,000) — approved by roll call; unanimous yes. - R 675 (Use of Dolores Community Center reserve, $15,000) — approved by voice vote. - R 683 (Dolores Family Project: use of town property for food shed) — approved by voice vote. - R 684 (F&M Construction contract for Fishing & Spawn project) — approved by voice vote.

What’s next: staff said the county will sign the sheriff contract the next day and pre-construction meetings for the Fishing & Spawn project are scheduled for Jan. 5. The board also directed staff to publish the approved budget and related materials as required by state law.

Sources and sourcing: reporting here is based solely on board meeting remarks, staff presentations and roll-call votes recorded during the Dec. 8 Dolores Board of Trustees meeting. Where the transcript did not identify a speaker by name, statements are attributed to "town staff" or an explicit role to avoid misidentification.

Ending: With the votes complete, trustees adjourned the Dec. 8 meeting at about 7:19 p.m.