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Broadwater County approves preliminary FY27 budget; commissioners also approve minutes, mosquito board bylaws and claims
Summary
Commissioners approved a preliminary FY27 budget totaling about $11.4 million (roughly a 1% increase over FY26), accepted staff's simplified presentation, and approved routine consent items including minutes, mosquito board bylaws and claims listed in the record.
Broadwater County commissioners approved the county's preliminary fiscal year 2027 budget in a voice vote after a staff presentation and also approved routine consent items including the July 8 minutes, bylaws for two mosquito boards, and claims.
Finance Officer Debbie Kelly said staff had simplified the preliminary budget for the public. County Administrative Officer Bill Jiaraki explained the timeline and major figures: the preliminary package is about a little over 1% higher than FY26 and totals roughly $11,400,000; the county manages 72 funds, 23 of which have expenditures above $100,000 and together represent about 86.86% of the total expenditure budget. Personnel costs account for about 67% of total expenses (roughly $7,600,000) and operations about 33% (roughly $3,700,000).
Jiaraki said the county is delaying final revenue estimates because of changes in property-tax statutes and expected new valuation numbers in August; the goal is to adopt a final budget in the first week of September. He told the commission that if property-tax revenue comes in higher than estimated the commissioners would decide whether to use less fund balance and incorporate that choice in the final budget.
After the budget presentation a motion to approve the Broadwater County FY27 preliminary budget was moved and seconded; commissioners voted by voice and the motion passed. The record shows procedural approval but staff noted several line items may change as revenue numbers are finalized.
The commission also approved minutes from the July 8 meeting, bylaws for the Townsend and 3 Forks Mosquito Boards (which had been approved by their boards the previous day) and claims in the dollar amounts read into the record ($29,072.37; $246.50; $9,085; $15,116.48).
What happens next: staff will receive August property valuations and prepare a final budget for commission adoption in early September; residents with questions were directed to contact Debbie Kelly or CAO Bill Jiaraki and were reminded materials are posted on the county website.
