Garfield County adopts proposed 2022 budget

PRESS RELEASE
November 10, 2021

Garfield County has adopted its 2022 proposed budget, which features a balanced $94.6 million operating budget and $6.5 million in capital projects. The budget includes $7 million for discretionary grants.

The county’s projected year-end fund balance is $81.9 million, a decrease from a projected $88.3 million at the end of 2021. The 2022 adopted proposed budget includes a balanced operating budget with revenues in excess of expenditures by $2.3 million and with a drawdown from capital and discretionary expenses of $8.7 million.

“The estimated operating revenues exceed the proposed operating expenditures by $2.3 million,” said Lea Ann Zinnikas, interim Garfield County finance director, to the Board of County Commissioners (BOCC). “The budget committee conducted a thorough review of the proposed budget with the elected officials and administrative department heads.”

The commissioners voted in favor of five percent merit raises for employees to keep up with inflation and ensure the county offers competitive pay to help retain staff. The county’s projected head count for 2022 is 489, a decrease of seven positions over the 2021 adopted budget.

“Due to a backlog of court cases from the COVID pandemic, the 9th Judicial District Attorney’s Office budget was increased by 22 percent, or $778,000,” added Commissioner Tom Jankovsky. “A request that was necessary to fund to address the backlog in cases.”

The proposed budget was approved unanimously, 3-0. More information can be found at garfield-county.com.