Grand County planning staff presented a 2026 operating budget to the Budget Advisory Board and highlighted an upcoming land‑use code update and several line‑item adjustments.

Staff said the proposed planning budget shows modest year‑over‑year changes overall but includes several specific items:
- Utilities: staff reported a higher utility estimate (about a 40% increase from previous conservative estimates) and said they had split utility charges across related budgets where appropriate.
- Professional services/land‑use code update: staff noted that in 2025 the county budgeted roughly $60,000–$65,000 for a land‑use code update and that conversations with consultants during pre‑budget planning indicate the full cost for a comprehensive update could approach $85,000–$95,000. Staff said an RFP will be issued and that the final cost will depend on RFP responses; the board directed staff to return with final RFP outcomes before committing larger amounts in the budget.
- Planning projects and joint transportation work: staff included line items for joint transportation and planning projects with local partners and a public‑engagement allocation.

Board members asked for clarity on professional‑services balances and the status of the RFP; staff said they would await RFP results and then adjust the budgeted line accordingly. Members also discussed small allocations for community code enforcement (junk cleanups) and vehicle/fleet costs associated with planning and inspections.

On staffing, planning staff said they expect to be fully staffed in 2026 and that moving positions in‑house (for example engineering) would reduce some external engineering fees. The board asked staff to provide updated cost detail once the RFP for the land‑use code update returns so the advisory board can review a more accurate professional services figure before tentative budget finalization.

The planning presentation concluded with agreement to bring back finalized numbers for the land‑use code contract and to align fleet and utility coding with the related inspector budget for clarity.