WilCo commissioners OK budget report, set public hearing

The tax is broken down into 28.1529 cents for the general fund, 4 cents for the road and bridge fund and 16.75 cents for debt service. The general fund and debt service tax portions have been slimmed down for the fiscal year, while the road and bridge tax has increased by 1 cent.

"I wanted to begin a cash-as-you-go program to take care of the roads and fund the road and bridge adequately," Flores said of the road and bridge tax increase.

About $170 million in property tax revenues are projected to cover 80 percent of the county's budget for 2013. County Budget Officer Ashlie Blaylock recommended to commissioners a budget of $126.9 million for the general fund, which is $812 less than in 2012, and $18.4 million for the road and bridge fund, down $43,521 from 2012.

Totaling more than $204 million, including $59 million for the debt service fund, the budget reflects cuts to line items for equipment repair, miscellaneous funding, training dollars, new programs and vehicle deductibles. Blaylock also recommended removing the county's pooled car program, which she said has resulted in an $8,045 loss since 2010.

"We start as early as January looking at the budget. Basically, what we look at first is new programs, and immediately, if they're not necessary, they get cut," Blaylock said. "Then we go to any contingency money. Any money for departments' 'what-ifs' gets cut out."

The commissioners approved the budget and revenue reports and set a public hearing date to approve the budget for Aug. 28 at 10 a.m. Additional meetings to consider budget modifications have been scheduled for Aug. 20 from 8 a.m.–noon and Aug. 21 from 1–5 p.m.