Commissioners to adopt 2024 budget on January 9

Commissioners to adopt 2024 budget on January 9

userway ADA

Jill Klosterman

Chief Financial Officer

970-328-3511

jill.klosterman@eaglecounty.us

 

January 4, 2024 – The Eagle County Board of Commissioners will consider adoption of the county’s proposed 2024 budget and mill levies during its morning session on Tuesday, Jan. 9. The meeting is scheduled to begin at 10:00 a.m. in the Eagle County Room, located at 500 Broadway Street in Eagle. All interested community members are encouraged to attend. The 2024 Budget Book and Budget in Brief are available online.

The public budget presentation occurred on December 18. A recording of this presentation can be viewed online at www.ecgtv.com. 

Across all funds, revenues are projected at $222 million for 2024. As proposed, expenditures are budgeted at $281 million, up from $258 million in 2023. The increase is primarily due to the construction of a multi-use election center and general services building in Edwards. In addition to being a secure state-of-the-art election center, this facility will also have offices for motor vehicle services, public health, human services, and the Sheriff’s Office. There will also be 20 housing units on the site. 

General Fund expenditures, including capital investments, will amount to approximately $80 million in 2024, representing a 28% increase from 2023 budgeted expenses. This increase is due to the contribution from the general fund towards the construction of the election center. This contribution is from American Rescue Plan Act grant awards that were received in previous years. Total General Fund operating expenses are increasing 6.5% due primarily to employee pay increases and health insurance increases. 

The Board of Commissioners has set a General Fund minimum reserve target of 25% of operating expenses. The county is budgeting to end 2024 with a General Fund reserve of $29 million, which is 36% of the fund’s 2024 expenditures.


The Commissioners intend to approve a budget that continues to make investments in the strategic priorities listed below:

 

Core Services

  • Provide exceptional core services to support quality of life for our residents, businesses, and visitors.

Support Our Workforce

  • Implement innovative solutions to create affordable housing.
  • Support accessible, quality early childhood care and education programming.
  • Support mental health services and access to affordable healthcare.

Create a Resilient Economy

  • Promote sustainable economic growth that benefits all residents.
  • Increase transportation options by supporting ECO transition and more county airport flights serving locals.
  • Update plans and resource development options for Gypsum I-70 Interchange

Protect our Mountain Ecosystem

  • Safeguard our natural resources, wildlife habitat, and water resources.
  • Assure innovative sustainability practices at the county’s landfill.
  • Update the county’s building code to reduce community-wide greenhouse gas emissions.
  • Reduce impacts of wildfires and drought.

 

The budget proposes expenditures of over $81 million to fund our strategic priorities. Highlights of the 2024 budget include:

 

  • $27.0 million towards construction for housing and the elections center, along with other county offices, located on land owned by the county on the Freedom Park campus in Edwards.
  • $25.5 million to continue funding the Bold Housing Moves programs and the construction of new workforce housing units across the community.
  • $15.0 million towards the completion of the Eagle Valley Trail. 
  • $5.5 million to reduce greenhouse gas emissions through home energy improvements and building electrification .
  • $4.8 million to increase early childhood education quality and access.
  • $1.7 million towards public health home visitations and to provide students with school based mental health counselors. 
  • $1.2 million towards wildfire mitigation.

 

The certification of mill levies for all taxing entities is set for January 16. For more information, contact Eagle County Chief Financial Officer Jill Klosterman at 970-328-3511.

ecg tv