Suzie Graeff, R., District 1
The county budget is made up of many departments and spending
agencies. There are numerous state statutes that must be followed
not only for the budget but also all the elected officials and
departments. It is a continuous evolving document. Constant
overview of the income and spending is a must to keep the budget in
balance not only on paper but in practice.
Contact Suzie Graeff at P.O. Box 1195, Elizabeth Co 80107,
suziegraeff@aol.com or (303) 646-4290
Ron Young, D., District 1
A budget is an estimate of the anticipated revenues and
expected expenses for an organization covering a specific period of
time. County budgets must also take into consideration the fund
balances that are accrued in reserve for emergencies and for
capital projects spanning multiple budgeting periods. Each elected
branch of Elbert County government has its own budget that must be
approved by the commissioners. When the county departmental budgets
are approved they become the county’s budget a “plan” that is then
compared periodically to the “actual” activities of the county
government.
It is imperative that the commissioners continually oversee the
detail analysis of the fluctuating “plan vs. actual” variations
between the revenues, the expenses and the fund balances. Any
revenue or expense or fund balance variation occurring outside of a
pre-established norm must raise a “red-flag of concern” requiring
immediate investigation.
None of the elected officials must be allowed to exceed their
budgets unless legally permitted to do so by either the county
commissioners or by legal references contained in the Colorado
State statutes.
All residents in Elbert County must be aware of where the
county’s revenues originate and to whom the county is paying for
services rendered.
Contact Ron Young at 303- 648-3096 or
Rgy1948@aol.com
John Metli, R., District 3
The question posed to the candidates this week, “As
commissioner, how do you intend to balance the county’s budget in
actuality, not just on paper,” implies that the commissioners have
the option of operating under a budget that is not balanced.
Nothing could be further from the truth.
State law mandates that all counties submit a balanced annual
budget to the state for its review. All counties under Colorado law
must have balanced budgets.
It is a sad day when the local press lacks a basic understanding
of county finance and budget law to the point that they would
submit a question like this one.
As commissioners our job is to project annual revenues and
expenditures for the coming fiscal year. This budget must contain
revenues that equal or exceed expenditures for the coming
year.
Department heads submit proposed budgets that are reviewed and
modified by the commissioners to ensure that expenditures do not
exceed revenues. As a commissioner for the last four years, I have
performed this responsibility.
Contact John Metli at 303- 621-3114.
R.J. Steele, D., District 3
The county budget available to the public is illegible. It
cannot be read by the taxpayer, and I sincerely doubt that income
and expenditures can really be tracked by anyone in county
government. To put this county where it gets back to solvency
several steps must be taken. Models exist for the development of
governmental budgets that are readable and understandable by
officials and taxpayers alike. One model will be selected. Income
will be tracked for the past 10 years and best, middle and worst
case scenarios will be developed. Because the county is in such
dire financial straits, the worst case, least income, must be
employed. On the upside, if more income is realized before the end
of the year, funds can be used for additional projects. Services
will be held to minimum funding until the crisis is past. Core
services will receive the greatest funding and projects will wait
until the county is solvent. Extreme efforts will be made to secure
additional grants and income. By developing a good budget, being
careful with income and sticking to careful fiscal management
practices, this county will become solvent again in the fastest
time with the least impacts on the taxpayer. Then we can again
begin to grow services to the taxpayer.
Contact R. J. Steele at 303-648-3175 or
rjsteele4boccd3@earthlink.net.