JOANN KALENAK, DCCR, OCT. 17, 2020 — Delta County Administrator Robbie LeValley presented County Commissioners with the 2021 Draft Budget during a public meeting on Oct. 15.
LeValley’s budget message painted a picture of healthy reserves (savings accounts), dramatically increased sales tax revenue and considerable funding from state and federal sources including Payments in Lieu of Taxes for public land, highway user’s tax funds, COVID-19 relief funding, and grants.
Here are some highlights:
- The total 2021 proposed county budget is $32,204,906, a decrease of $4,013,772 from the 2020 adopted budget, which included the construction of a new Human Services building.
- Opening reserves (savings) for January 1, 2021 are projected to be $19,180,191.
- The 2021 budget reflects a “temporary” reduction of 1.428 mills in the mill levy on property tax from 18.057 to 16.629.
- Sales tax revenue increased 47% to $6,313,422 in 2020 when compared to the 5-year rolling average. 2021 projections will reflect a 5% increase over 2020.
- Expenditures exceed revenues by $1,940,291 in the 2021 proposed budget.
- Funding for the Sheriff’s department, jail, dispatch, emergency management, district attorney, and coroner represents 52% of the general fund expenditures.
- No increase proposed for capital contributions to five Delta County libraries. $10,000 per location has been proposed in 2021.
- Continued construction is planned in 2021 to increase courtroom space per state mandates.
- Additional staff hires planned in 2021 for a court security officer in the Sheriff’s department; a land-use code compliance coordinator in the Planning department; and a property appraiser in the Assessor’s department.