Montrose, COLO.—Montrose County Manager Jon Waschbusch presented the 2022 proposed budget during a special meeting of the Board of County Commissioners on Monday, Oct. 11. Presentation of the proposed budget comes after months of reviewing fund models and decision packages. The annual budget is developed in collaboration with the elected officials and staff of the entire county organization.
"Creating the annual budget is one of the most critical actions taken by the county. This document provides a snapshot of our financial condition, it illustrates the county’s priorities and it outlines the direction we are headed,” said Waschbusch. "Montrose County remains in strong financial condition across all funds. We continue to model revenues and expenditures five years into the future. This practice assures that our financial decisions are sustainable for 2022 and beyond."
Total revenues (excluding interfund transfers) for 2022 are projected at $104,947,486. Total expenditures (excluding interfund transfers) are projected at $101,702,173. The total proposed county budget is $125 million for total sources and 121.8 million for total uses. Increases in revenues and expenditures are primarily attributed to the construction cost of the terminal expansion at Montrose Regional Airport and the accompanying $24.8 million in revenue from grants and debt proceeds for this project.
The 2022 ending balance for all funds is projected at $67.3 million, which is an increase in $3.2 million from the previous year. This change is primarily due to a temporary increase in federal funding through the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) as well as transfers into the capital improvement funds for projects in the coming years.
The proposed budget presentation may be found here and the video from the meeting is available here. The public is encouraged to comment and ask questions regarding the county's proposed budget. The next step in the annual budget process is further review by the Board of County Commissioners, county manager, and finance staff through meetings with department heads and elected officials. Additional changes to the budget will be incorporated and presented as part of the final budget. On Dec. 8, the Board of County Commissioners is scheduled to host a public budget hearing to formally consider the budget for adoption and certify the mill levies per state statute.
To reach out to the commissioners regarding the budget, please email commissioners@montrosecounty.net or call 970-249-7755. To reach County Manager Waschbusch about the proposed budget, please contact jwaschbusch@montrosecounty.net or call 970-249-7755.