2017 budgets in most departments of Montezuma County’s government are likely to be cut by up to 10 percent, with no increases in salaries or staff granted.
During a workshop Monday, the county commissioners explored ways to make up what would be a more than $900,000 deficit in the general fund should the original requests be granted. Although no decisions were made, commissioners Keenan Ertel and James Lambert agreed the sheriff’s proposed budget, which included funding for 10 more patrol and detention deputies, needed instead to be trimmed by about $300,000. The 22nd Judicial District Attorney’s Office had sought money for a new employee and 5 percent pay raises, but the commissioners indicated this too was not affordable. The county is expecting a sharp decline in tax revenues largely because its top taxpayer, Kinder Morgan, is earning less on its carbon-dioxide production.
- David Long contributed to this report
