The Montrose Board of County Commissioners formally adopted the 2022 proposed budget of $121,668,439 million. Adoption of the final budget included minimal changes from the recommended budget presented by County Manager Jon Waschbusch in October. These changes include funding for an update of the Community Wildfire Protection Plan, a grant match for Hazard Mitigation Planning and the addition of a communicable disease specialist in public health. The final budget includes three new deputies for the Sheriff’s Office which was an adjustment from the five deputies included in the proposed budget. Collectively, the changes resulted in the final budget being $144,254 less than the draft budget.
“I am incredibly proud of the hard work of our team,” said County Manager Jon Waschbusch. “Over the past two years we have streamlined the budget process—making things easier for our team internally and continuing to deliver on the county’s commitment to financial transparency. The county remains in strong financial condition and we are continually updating our models and projections to assure financial sustainability. ”
The highlight of this year’s budget is the Montrose Regional Airport terminal expansion capital project. This project, which has been in planning stages for seven years, was approved by the board in September. At this time, around $12 million of the project is being funded by a Federal Aviation Administration grant from the Airport Improvement Fund. Construction is already underway at the airport and project updates can be found at flymontrose.com/construction.
“I firmly believe 2022 will be a banner year for Montrose County,” said Hansen. “The terminal expansion will significantly improve accessibility for passengers, provide added opportunities for growth at the airport, and continue the airport’s history as a major economic contributor for the area.”
The 2022 ending balance for all funds is projected around $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. The adopted budget will be posted to the website in January once it is certified by the state. As a reminder, up to date county financials are available 24/7 here. For more information about Montrose County, please visit montrosecounty.net.