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Finance director reports improving year‑to‑date position but rising property tax delinquencies ahead of FY 26/27 budget
Summary
Finance Director Klaus Leidenbauer told the Audit and Finance Committee that Alpine County’s current‑year revenues are running ahead and expenses down versus prior year, reserves were replenished, but property tax receivables rose about $400,000 year‑over‑year; staff will finalize FY 26/27 preliminary budget materials for the Board of Supervisors.
Klaus Leidenbauer, Alpine County finance director, presented the committee with a snapshot of current fiscal activity through April 30 and an update on the FY 26/27 preliminary budget.
He said the county is projecting to finish the year roughly in line with the budget if projected receipts materialize. "If everything comes out as we project, we'll be about 2% under in tax collections than what we projected," he said, and noted transient occupancy tax (TOT) receipts recently improved with an additional $213,000 deposit that reduced a previously projected shortfall.
Liedenbauer also flagged a growing property tax receivable: "Our property tax receivable has gone…from about $800,000 [at the end of FY24] to $1,200,000 [at the end of FY25]," he said, an increase of roughly $400,000 that reflects rising delinquencies and affects cash flow. The finance director said collection work and supplemental assessments are helping offset some loss but cautioned that receivable growth hurts the county’s liquidity.
On positive notes, staff restored approximately $45,058,000 into a new general reserve account and reported that current‑year revenues to date were up about $1.2 million while expenses were down roughly $407,000 versus the prior snapshot.
Liedenbauer walked members through the ERAF apportionment mechanics and said the county expects to capture roughly $704,000 at year end under the historical distribution used locally. He said budget development work is underway with departmental leadership and county administration and that a fuller picture of FY 26/27 will be available in the coming days for presentation to the Board of Supervisors.
Committee members asked for clarifications on ERAF and noted the sheriff's department fund (fund 149) is under pressure, with expenses outpacing revenue increases and carryover funds absorbing the difference for now.
