2027 Grant County Budget Meetings, Wednesday 11/05/2026

Grant County BOCC 2027 budget work session, November 5, 2026: Commissioners and department representatives reviewed preliminary budget estimates, which they described as provisional pending reconciliation of data from the county’s financial systems. Development Services discussed approximately $700,000 for a periodic-update consultant, with an offsetting grant expected to cover the cost, as well as outside land-use counsel and hearings-examiner expenses. The department requested clearer separation of building and fire-marshal funds and discussed possible fire-marshal staffing needs. Vehicle costs also prompted discussion of a roughly $41,000 Ford Maverick, replacement charges, and options for a shared or rental-style county fleet. Officials asked staff to investigate whether interest on renewable-energy permit fees held in Fund 170 can remain in that fund; they also reviewed potential local excise-tax revenue associated with eligible renewable-energy projects under HB 1960. No new contract award or spending vote was recorded in this meeting.

The public-defense budget discussion identified possible staffing additions—including two attorney positions, support staff, an investigator, and legal secretaries—to address workload and professional standards, while noting that requirements differ between court rules and bar-association standards. The law library discussed its Westlaw terminal and a copier replacement request that had been approved previously but not completed. The Auditor’s Office reviewed substantial discrepancies in revenue and expense estimates, election equipment and supply costs, historic-record digitization, and ERP budgeting; participants noted that HAVA-related funding was not expected in 2027. A $12,800 grant for an advertising fund was referenced as having been approved the previous day. Staff were asked to verify and correct budget figures and follow up on fund accounting and equipment needs; no new procurement approvals were made.