||| FROM SAN JUAN COUNTY COMMUNICATIONS |||
The County Auditor has published the County’s Preliminary 2022-2023 Budget. The County budget sets spending and hiring limits for the County by fund, by department, and by program. Adopting it is the greatest responsibility of the County Council.
The preliminary budget is developed over months of work across the organization. The budget process began in April with requests for proposed capital projects. In June, Auditor staff projected payroll costs for the next biennium. In July, worksheets went out to all departments and funds, seeking requests for 2022/2023 funding. A “Budget Team” comprised of the County Auditor, County Manager, Chief Deputy Auditor, and Deputy County Manager reviewed all requests with the requesting departments in August. In September, the Budget Team agreed on recommendations for Council, and Auditor staff began to assemble the pieces into a complete budget.
Once delivered to Council, Council has the opportunity to hear from the departments directly. They may accept the recommendations of the Budget Team, alter them, reject them, or add additional spending themselves. The first discussion of the budget will take place at the Council meeting on November 2. Public hearings scheduled for November 9, November 30, and December 7 include opportunity for citizens to comment on the proposed budget. Council is expected to adopt a final budget on December 7.
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