Weld County commissioners advance $660.8 million 2027 budget

Weld County commissioners approved on first reading a $660,839,450 budget for 2027 that keeps the 6.082 mill levy credit in place, which the county says cuts property tax collections 3.7%.

Jennifer Offtley said the county prepared its 2027 budget without reducing services, with a 3.7% decrease in property tax by leaving the 6.082 mill levy credit in effect for county residents and businesses. She said property tax was budgeted at $303,110,979, approximately $12 million less than the county planned to collect by the end of 2026.

Offtley said TABOR allows property-tax collections at growth plus inflation, which she put at approximately 6% for the 2027 budget. She said the County Charter allows a 5% increase in property tax each year.

The budget team recommended $660,839,450 in expenditures for 2027. Offtley said the county also expects approximately $580 million in revenue.

Offtley said elected officials and department heads kept their budgets flat, allowing the county to work toward its facilities master plan and public works capital improvement plan. Commissioner Kevin Ross said the county had asked for steady, no-growth budgets for multiple years in a row. He called a 3% reduction in county operating expenses a significant effort given Weld County's growth, saying "that's quite an impact truly to being able to To hold that line."

Ross said costs were higher than three years earlier, citing inflation and other factors. He also said the budget process began in March.

Offtley said $10,000 from revenue received in '26 was being added to the '27 budget for a mass training exercise. She said the board had already approved the 2027 exercise through a pass-around.