The County Commissioners will review the latest version of the County’s 2019 Balanced Budget on Nov. 8 during the fourth budget hearing of the season. The Commissioners are expected to give staff final directions before they convene on Nov. 29, 2018 to approve the budget.

Board of County Commissioners President Darryl Glenn said, “It is very important that the residents of El Paso County have more chances to let us know their thoughts before we vote on next year’s budget. We invite any feedback and encourage folks who want to comment to attend Thursday’s meeting.”

The El Paso County Financial Services Department presented the Preliminary Balanced Budget at the Sept. 20, 2018 Board of County Commissioners meeting. County departments and offices presented their critical needs for 2019 at the Tuesday, Oct. 16 and Thursday, Oct. 18 meetings. Beginning on Thursday, Nov. 8, the public will have more chances to address the Board and comment on the 2019 Budget before a vote is taken Nov. 29. The County must adopt the 2019 budget prior to Dec. 15.

Members of the public may attend and comment on the budget during any scheduled Board of County Commissioners meeting up to and including Nov. 29.

The $356.6 million Preliminary Balanced Budget includes $130.2 million in discretionary revenue that the Board of County Commissioners will distribute to provide core services. The remainder of the budget will go to projects and programs set by state or federal law or other restrictions, which cannot be altered by Commissioners.

El Paso County government is able to meet these needs with the lowest cost-per-household of any large county in the state. The average household with a home market value of $250,000 will only contribute $140 in property taxes to the County budget during 2019.

The 2019 Original Adopted Budget seeks to balance the needs of fiscal responsibility and sustainability while adhering to the five-year Financial Roadmap set in 2018. The County’s five-year Financial Roadmap was a commitment to devote more resources to high-priority critical needs such as transportation, cyber security and technology, emergency reserve funds, human capital, and TABOR impacts.

The 2019 Preliminary Balanced Budget may be viewed online at the El Paso County website by going to https://admin.elpasoco.com/financial-services/budget-finance/county-budget/ and will also be on file in the El Paso County Financial Services Department, Budget Division at 200 S. Cascade Ave., Suite 150 in downtown Colorado Springs until adoption on Nov. 29.

The remaining El Paso County Budget hearing schedule is as follows:

November 8, 2018

  • BoCC Direction on the 2019 Original Adopted Budget

November 29, 2018

  • Resolution to Adopt the 2019 Original Adopted Budget
    [Statutory Deadline – December 15, 2018 C.R. S 29-1-108 (2) and (3)]
  • Resolution to Certify the County Mill Levy
    [Statutory Deadline – December 15, 2018 C.R. S 39-5-128 (1)]
  • Resolution to Authorize the Treasurer to Transfer between Funds
    [Statutory Deadline – December 31, 2018 C.R. S 29-1-108 (4)]