Park County finance staff presented a preliminary countywide budget picture on June 12, telling the Board of County Commissioners the county can cover next year’s spending but will draw down reserves if current proposals stand.

The presentation centered on the county’s PILT (payment in lieu of taxes) fund and internal transfers used to balance small special‑purpose funds. Erica, the county budget staff who led the review, told commissioners the FY2026 proposed beginning reserve would be about $2.03 million and that projected expenditures of roughly $2.28 million would reduce the reserve to about $1.9 million under current assumptions.

Why it matters: PILT and the county reserve position determine how much the commission can transfer to smaller funds (museum, fair, airport, dispatch, road operations) without increasing taxes or taking on debt.

Key items flagged for commissioners included a proposed increase in the sheriff’s budget and several fund‑specific adjustments. Erica said the sheriff’s proposed increase—driven primarily by base wage pressure—amounted to a $275,000 rise in that department’s budget but noted union negotiations and a formal proposal had not yet been completed. Dispatch was shown with an estimated increase (the presenter adjusted dispatch from $5.35 to $5.75 per unit) pending final figures.

Other points: road operations’ negative fund balance is under review; the presenter said accounting changes and equipment sale timing could eliminate that deficit for FY2026. Several fund decisions are timing‑sensitive: PILT receipts lag one year, so some FY2025 receipts are being carried into FY2026 projections. The presenter recommended holding certain CIP (capital improvement project) requests pending the final state grant outcomes that may affect the museum and other departments.

Next steps: staff proposed a follow‑up budget meeting to finalize figures after receiving remaining department estimates and the airport board review; the county planned to circulate the PILT spreadsheet to department heads for review prior to the next meeting.