Nonprofit Organizations Feel Brunt of Cuts

OURAY – Facing uncertain revenue streams and uncertain expenditures, the Ouray County Commissioners unanimously approved what Commissioner Keith Meinert called a “conservative” 2009 county budget.

The 2008 valuation for property assessment in Ouray County is currently $196,889,200. With a property tax mil levy of 13.298 (also approved on Monday) the county’s revenue stream for 2009 is expected to be $8,039,220. The county’s expenditures for 2009 are expected to be $7,759,654 – giving the county $279,566 of leeway if revenues fall short or expenditures exceed expectations in this uncertain economic climate.

“It gives you a lot of insight on how the county functions and answers a lot of questions on whether the county is being fiscally responsible and fiscally conservative,” Meinert said of the 120-page document. “This budget reflects a conservative position.”

Meinert cited the $279,566 as a “budget contingency” that is in line with Commissioner Don Batchelder’s “conservative budgeting” and it “reflects a significant amount of uncertainty with revenue streams.

“As we get into this world-wide recession, we can’t predict what our receipts are going to be on things like building permits,” Meinert said. “We also have a lot of uncertainty on major expenditure items like [fuel], which has yo-yo-ed from $5 to $1.25 a gallon.”

General fund capitol expenditures have tapered off for 2009 with the completion of the courthouse restoration project. There is $3.7 million allotted in the capitol expenditures budget that will primarily pay for lease purchase payments for the Ouray County Sheriff’s vehicles, final payment for the maintenance vehicle, Land Use/Road and Bridge facility addition payment, and the second-year contract with ValueCheck for the assessor’s office’s commercial property appraisals.

The commissioner-approved 2009 Budget Message continues a bonus merit award, not to exceed 1 percent, for county employees based on performance evaluations. The award has been provided to employees since 2005.

It is also the goal of the county to minimize increases in health insurance costs for its employees, while at the same time avoiding payment hikes for employees. For the 2009 budget year, Ouray County is experiencing an increase of 17 percent in health insurance premiums and, as a result, will be soliciting Requests for Proposals in 2009 for employee health insurance benefits for the 2010 budget year.

Contributions to nonprofit and outside agencies are decreasing in the coming year primarily due to economic impacts, which have stemmed from decreased building revenues and decreased clerk’s office activities like recordings and motor vehicle registrations. Overall, the county has budgeted $8,000 in contributions to eight outside organizations. This is significantly down from the 2008 budget where the county gave $13,750 to those same eight organizations. The Ouray Historical Society received $500 in 2008 and will receive $200 in 2009, while Public Lands Partnership is set to receive $500 – half of what it received in 2008. The two organizations that were hit hardest are Yankee Boy Conservation Association, which will receive $1,500 in 2009 (down from $3,500 in 2008), and Voyager Youth Program, which is set to receive $500 in 2009 (down from $2,000 it received in 2008).

Three months of adequate operating reserves have been established by the board for the general fund, road and bridge fund and emergency medical services fund.

The county commissioners, according to the budget summary, will continue to administer the budget with a conservative approach.

“The position we are taking with presenting a conservative budget is appropriate for these uncertain times,” Meinert said.