County plans to adopt $310.6 million budget for 2011

By JoAn Bjarko
North Forty News

Only a handful of people took the time to ask questions about the 2011 Larimer County budget when commissioners held public hearings in Fort Collins and Estes Park in November.

Commissioners will tweak the budget a bit and then adopt it on Dec. 20. The budget adoption hearing begins at 10 a.m. in the Courthouse Offices Building in Fort Collins.

Citizens can expect the county to spend $310.6 million next year. Of that amount, the general fund gets about $98 million. That's the portion of spending most visible to county residents.

The commissioners this year asked department heads and other elected officials to cut spending from 1 to 6 percent based on the commissioners' priorities for offering county services. The cuts anticipate an 8 percent drop in property tax revenue for the 2012 budget because of declining property values.

Prioritizing services "makes us smart shoppers," Commissioner Steve Johnson told the small audience at the Fort Collins hearing. "It keeps us focused on our mission."

Johnson also noted that Larimer County is not taking money out of reserves to balance the budget, but many other counties and municipalities in the state are. Instead, the county can put an additional $3.5 million into its reserves because of its belt-tightening approach this year.

"We are doing what most people expect local government and all governments to do," budget manager Bob Keister said after the hearings. "People are pleased with the process we use to keep within our means."

Keister noted that this year the county reduced spending on low priority services, but next year it may have to eliminate services.

The county will have 30 fewer employees in 2011, saving about $1.45 million. Some of the lost positions were already vacant, and some employees will take a voluntary separation offer from the county. In addition, county employees will see no salary increases for the second year in a row and no merit pay. Pay increases for longevity are being phased out.

The county breaks down its budget by service areas. Public safety remains the top-funded category at $61.5 million. Other categories include support services, $56.5 million; health and well-being, $50.6 million; transportation, $31.7 million; general government, $14.8 million; environment, $20.3 million; and jobs and economic vitality, $6.7 million.

The county's operating mill levy remains the same at 21.774. The tax impact on an owner of a $268,569 home is expected to be an increase of $1.96 in property tax next year.