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Billings County approves preliminary 2027 budget totaling $8.23 million
Summary
Commissioners approved a preliminary 2027 budget that sets the county general fund at about $8.23 million, includes internal transfers and an estimated $250,000 operating-and-maintenance transfer, and preserves a modest carryforward while leaving final levy calculations to the October hearing.
Billings County commissioners voted to adopt a preliminary budget for 2027 that sets the county general fund at $8,233,696.21 and carries internal transfers and projected levies forward to the final hearing in October. The commission approved the preliminary appropriation so the county can meet required publication and filing deadlines.
A staff member who presented the figures told commissioners that one departmental change was an increase to the domestic violence and abuse crisis center line from $66,000 to $76,000 and that the budget includes an estimated $250,000 transfer from operating and maintenance to the wheat board next year. "The general fund budget is set at $8,233,696.21," the presenter said during the meeting. Staff also explained a large internal transfer listed in the worksheet (about $13,000,000) is a reallocation within county funds from the land utilization fund to road and bridge, not new external revenue.
During discussion, staff reviewed levy estimates and cap calculations, noting the unorganized township road fund's max-cap calculation of $377,007.66 would equate to an 18-mill levy for that fund to qualify for certain state programs. Commissioners and staff reviewed five-year revenue comparisons and cautioned that oil-and-gas income is volatile; staff said they use conservative multi-year averages when projecting revenues. The commission will hold a final budget hearing in October where levy worksheets and any final adjustments will be approved.
