County manager Vina Giannizio asked the Board of County Commissioners on Jan. 2 for direction about follow-up work on line items in the FY 2025 budget after the board’s total-budget approval. Giannizio said staff would compare submitted department and elected-official requests with the adopted base and highlight items that were not funded and that might warrant additional board discussion.

Commissioners identified a small set of outstanding questions, including a pending sheriff’s office request (about $900,000) and clerks’ office questions related to a Pueblo West location. Staff proposed preparing a prioritized analysis of the remaining or partially funded requests and delivering that information to commissioners by Friday so the board could provide further direction during a Monday check-in and a potential Thursday meeting if final action were needed.

On a separate administrative item, commissioners agreed to pay an outstanding invoice of $950 to Ridgeline Electric and Solar to complete an earlier decision to support Los Pobres’ solar installation; staff said the invoice would be processed and could be applied to 2024 or 2025 accounting as appropriate.

At the end of the work session County Attorney Cynthia Mitchell asked the board to convene an executive session to receive legal advice and to develop negotiation strategy under Colorado law related to (1) a contract for placement of a child in Department of Human Services custody and benefits for elected officials, (2) a contract with the law firm Semple, Barrington, Everol & Case, and (3) potential real estate matters including the possible purchase of 414 West 9th Street and a potential lease of space in the GSC building at 201 West 8th Street (all matters cited under C.R.S. § 24-6-402(4)(b), (e) and (a)). A motion to convene executive session was made, seconded and approved; the board recorded the affirmative voice vote and entered executive session.

Commissioners directed staff to prepare the requested budget analyses and documentation for elected officials and department lines, and staff said it would provide a timeline to outside entities receiving county funding so organizations know when to expect payments.