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Grand County preliminary 2026 budget shows $17.47 million deficit driven by EMS station costs
Summary
Grand County commissioners approved a preliminary 2026 budget determination showing a $17,467,198 deficit, largely tied to capital spending and the timing of COPs for EMS Station 1. Finance Director Alina Bell said the operating budget has a surplus while capital needs create the overall shortfall.
Grand County commissioners on Oct. 14 approved a preliminary 2026 budget determination that shows a $17,467,198 shortfall, county Finance Director Alina Bell told the board.
"When you sum all those up, our total 2026 preliminary budget deficit is $17,467,198," Bell said, summarizing operating and capital balances. She reported an operating surplus of about $11,502,222 and a capital deficit of about $28,969,420. Bell told commissioners that roughly $15.6 million of the deficit is associated with the EMS Station 1 project and its financing (COPs) timing.
The board moved to approve the preliminary budget determination and set dates for rebuttal hearings and final approval. Bell outlined next steps: a deadline for budget rebuttals on Oct. 24, rebuttal hearings on Nov. 5, a draft budget message and a final budget determination by Nov. 12, and final resolution and supplemental approvals in mid-December.
Commissioners and staff discussed that a large portion of the deficit reflects carry-forward capital spending and that the county will continue to identify revenue and expenditure changes during the rebuttal and finalization process. Chair (speaker 1) and other commissioners thanked finance staff for a clear presentation of the numbers.
The board voted to adopt the preliminary budget determination as presented.
The county will publish updates as departments provide more metrics and as budget hearings continue.
