The 2026 Archuleta County budget was presented during a regular meeting held by the Archuleta County Board of County Commissioners (BoCC) on Tuesday, Oct. 7, with Accountant Allison Wylie presenting the proposed budget.
Wylie noted that the budget work sessions would take place between Oct. 14 and 28, with the BoCC scheduled to approve the final budget and appropriate funds during its Nov. 18 meeting.
Wylie explained that the forces driving the 2026 proposed budget include external forces, internal strategic considerations, and statutes and county policy.
Those internal strategic considerations include a 1 percent growth of core operations budgets, staffing levels maintained at 2025 levels plus a cost-of-living adjustment, continued needed road maintenance, and increasing revenues and grant funding, according to Wylie’s presentation.
According to Wylie’s presentation, the proposed budget includes an 18 percent decrease in revenue from the 2025 budget, going from $50,396,873.32 to $41,510,780.05, with total expenditures listed at $44,239,679.75 in 2026. This equates to $2,728,899.70 more in total expenditures versus total revenues for 2026.
Revenues listed for the 2026 general fund total $22,419,789.60, with total expenditures listed at $24,815,561.66.
The road and bridge fund has $7,093,124,32 listed for total revenues and $8,188,269.03 listed for total expenditures.
The Department of Human Services projects $3,065,860.84 in total revenues and $2,265,147,22 in total expenditures.
The Public Health Department lists a total of $1,339,591 in revenues and $1,330,097 of total expenditures.
The combined dispatch fund shows $1,286,230.27 in total revenues and $1,244,713.60 in total expenditures.
The Conservation Trust Fund has a total of $175,000 in total revenues, with $175,000 listed for total expenditures, as well.
The Justice System Capital Fund has $818,400 listed for total revenues, with $818,400 listed for total expenditures as well.
The Fairfield Settlement Fund has $20,000 listed in total revenues, with nothing listed for expenditures.
Interim County Manager Mike Torres indicated that those revenues may possibly be coming from interest received on that account.
The solid waste fund has $2,012,240 listed for total revenues and $2,001,411.32 in total expenditures.
The airport fund has $955,544 listed in total revenues, with $1,076,089.92 listed for total expenditures.
The Fleet Management fund has $2,325,000 listed for total revenues, with $2,325,000 also listed for total expenditures.
Wylie also highlighted the 2026 expenses by major type, noting that, in 2025, personnel costs came in at $19,228,762, with the 2026 budget showing $20,207,577, for an increase of 5 percent or $978,815.
A 1 percent increase in materials and services is proposed, going from $15,983,902 in 2025 to $16,079,277 in 2026.
A decrease of 67 percent in capital outlay expenses is being proposed, going from $13,632,017 in 2025 to $4,547,915 in 2026.
The debt service expense includes a 509 percent increase, going from $165,153 in 2025 to $1,005,140 in 2026, and the total expense for transfers being proposed includes an 8 percent decrease, going from $2,605,976 in 2025 to $2,399,770 in 2026.
Overall revenues across the county’s 11 funds for 2026 shows an 18 percent decrease, or $8,886,093.27 less than 2025.
The biggest decrease is reflected in the county’s general fund at 24 percent, or $7,222,344.38 less than 2025, followed by an 18 percent decrease in the public health fund, or $658,598.16 less than 2025.
The entirety of the county’s 2026 proposed budget presentation can be viewed online at https://www.archuletacounty.gov/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/2026-proposed-budget-presentation.pdf, or at the Archuleta County Clerk and Recorder’s Office, now located at 305 Village Drive.
Following Wylie’s presentation, Commissioner Veronica Medina explained that no action was needed for the item during the Oct. 7 meeting, as no other comments were made by the commissioners.
clayton@pagosasun.com
