Published on December 19, 2022
A major step toward planning for next year was completed last week as the Weld County Board of Commissioners approved the 2023 budget for the amount of $441,083,883. The board also continued a two-decade long practice of charging below TABOR’s mill levy limit for property taxes (22.038 mills) by agreeing to keep the county’s mill levy rate at 15.038.
While the county’s budget deals with the dollars and cents needed to provide services to residents, it also speaks to the overall condition of the county. Weld County Finance Director Don Warden said the county remains in excellent financial condition, a positive that can be attributed to the commitment of past and present boards to be good stewards of taxpayer dollars.
“Many local governments are facing financial pressures. Fortunately, Weld County is weathering this storm better than most thanks to our past prudent and conservative financial management,” Warden wrote in his budget message to the commissioners. “Over the years, Weld County has taken several steps to safeguard taxpayer dollars. Weld County has also been fortunate to have a solid local economic foundation that has been strengthened over many decades by being business friendly and diversifying the local economy.”
The county’s strong financial condition doesn’t make it immune to challenges, however. Warden pointed out those challenges center around inflation, which can impact the cost of fuel and supplies to complete construction projects.
Some of the 2023 budget highlights include: