Pitkin County Looks to Strengthen Workforce and Community with 2025 Budget

PITKIN COUNTY, Colo. (Oct. 3, 2024) - The Pitkin County Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) considered the proposed 2025 county budget and five-year plan during a work session on Tuesday, Oct. 8. This was the first of several meetings ahead of the budget's final adoption on Dec. 10.

The 2025 budget addresses key challenges facing the county, including the valley-wide housing market, inflation in critical sectors, and increasing demands on county services. The proposed budget makes significant investments in the county's workforce, infrastructure, and capital projects, with a focus on resiliency and sustainability.

"Retention and recruitment continue to be top priorities for us," said County Manager Jon Peacock. "With the valley's tight housing market and rising costs, it's essential to invest in our workforce to maintain competitive wages and benefits. This budget reflects that commitment while also accounting for ongoing inflationary pressures that affect everything from project costs to daily operations."

Key Priorities of the Proposed 2025 Budget and Five-Year Plan:

Retention and Recruitment of Staff: The budget addresses ongoing challenges in recruiting and retaining staff in a tight labor market, exacerbated by housing inflation. The budget maintains competitive wages and benefits, adding new positions when funding allows. This investment is critical as unfunded state and federal mandates, increased community service expectations, and growing county projects put pressure on departments.

Localized Inflation: Although U.S. inflation has moderated to around 3%, key sectors for county operations-such as radios and electric battery storage-continue to experience higher rates. Local construction costs remain elevated. The 2025 budget accounts for these inflationary pressures to ensure projects and operations are appropriately funded.

Funding for Board-Directed Priorities: The budget includes significant one-time expenditures for projects such as affordable housing, greenhouse gas reduction, and the construction of a new landfill scalehouse as part of a landfill expansion. It also supports airport improvements, road maintenance, and other vital infrastructure projects. These initiatives will draw from General Fund discretionary balances, which may limit future flexibility.

Maintenance of Capital Assets: The budget allocates funding for county road, bridge, and facility maintenance. However, there is a shortfall for major capital improvements, particularly for bridges and public safety facilities like Dispatch and the jail. The five-year plan provides minimal funding for maintenance but acknowledges the need for future investment in critical infrastructure.

The county's financial outlook remains strong, with the 2025 budget reflecting a balanced approach to addressing immediate needs while planning for long-term sustainability. However, flexibility for future priorities could be limited by current expenditures.

"The 2025 budget strikes a balance between investing in our workforce, addressing inflationary pressures, and funding critical projects to strengthen our community's resiliency," Peacock said. "While we are in a strong financial position, this budget underscores the need for strategic resource allocation to ensure Pitkin County remains sustainable and adaptable to future challenges."

County departments will present detailed budget proposals in the coming weeks, outlining how their plans align with the county's strategic goals. All budget meetings will be streamed live on CGTV and the county's YouTube channel, with links available on the county's website.

For more information on the 2025 budget or to view upcoming meeting schedules, visit pitkincounty.com

Media contact: Pitkin County Community Relations, [email protected]

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