2027 Grant County Budget Meetings, Tuesday 11/10/26

Grant County Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) budget meetings, November 10, 2026: The county reviewed departmental budgets while noting that figures pulled from its financial systems were often inaccurate or incomplete. Staff described the proposed 2027 budgets as preliminary, with line-by-line review and later budget amendments expected. The emergency communications organization MAX presented a proposed budget of about $6.8 million and described ongoing investments in radio, microwave, and broadband systems, remote call-taking, and AI tools. Its presentation cited nearly $2 million invested in the first phase of vehicle connectivity and a radio-tower repair costing about $20,000; no related contract award was made. The fee supporting MAX was described as increasing by 2% annually, or by the dispatchers’ cost-of-living adjustment if lower.

The BOCC reviewed capital requests and potential funding sources, but many items remained preliminary, subject to verification, or deferred rather than approved for purchase. Commissioners discussed a tentative $300,000 from REIT funds for the Old Vantage Highway and another $300,000 from the county’s economic enhancement fund, alongside a $200,000 Drumheller request. A funding plan for the coroner’s office project was presented as $2.5 million from REIT 1, $1 million from REIT 2, and $2.5 million from Fund 133, assuming receipt of $2.35 million in congressionally directed spending. Fairground requests—including a $375,000 announcer booth, food-booth work, and other improvements—were debated; sheriff and jail requests were largely put on hold pending more information. The meeting also included approval of the consent agenda by motion and vote, but no capital procurement award or final adoption of the budget was identified.