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Morrow County adopts FY2026-27 budget, directs supplemental funds to address rural fire district request
Summary
The Morrow County Board of Commissioners adopted the FY2026-27 budget and directed staff to prepare a supplemental budget to consider an $84,000 annual stipend and a one-time $300,000 loan request from the Heapner Rural Fire Protection District tied to impacts from the Wheat Ridge East wind project.
Morrow County on June 18 adopted its FY2026-27 budget and asked staff to prepare a supplemental budget amendment to consider additional funding requested by the Heapner Rural Fire Protection District.
During the public hearing, Tom, representing the Heapner district, asked the board to include an $84,000 annual stipend and a one-time $300,000 no-interest loan repayable over three years to cover equipment and increased responsibilities the district says accrued after the county accepted the Wheat Ridge East wind project. "The main reason for this request is the increased responsibility and mandated liabilities that fall on the district due to the county's acceptance of the east of the Wheat Ridge East wind project," Tom said during public comment.
County finance staff told the board that the county received $1,260,235.97 in additional revenue after a late valuation for Wheat Ridge East was posted to the tax roll. Commissioners debated whether to include the fire-district request directly in the adopted FY27 budget or to adopt the budget as proposed and handle any additions through a post-July 1 supplemental budget. Finance Director Kevin recommended adopting the FY27 budget and preparing a supplemental budget amendment because of public-notice and publication timing constraints.
After public testimony and deliberation, the board adopted Resolution R-2026-15 to approve the FY2026-27 budget as presented and then voted to "direct staff to prepare a supplemental budget for fiscal year 2027 and related documents to accommodate our Hepner [Heapner] rural fire request." The motion passed on a voice vote.
The board also held a separate supplemental-budget hearing and adopted Resolution R-2026-11, which made technical adjustments for FY2025-26 appropriations.
County staff said the supplemental budget process will include documentation about where any additional allocations would come from and follow the public-notice requirements applicable to supplemental appropriations. The board asked staff to prepare the supplemental materials and return with the specific proposed changes for review and formal adoption.
