County’s assessed value increases to $92,726,290

    Phillips County commissioners adopted the 2018 County budget Dec. 19, 2017, again adopting a total mill levy of 28.28. This year the County’s assessed value increased $4,313,133 from $88,413,157 in 2017 to $92,726,290 in 2018.
    There was $441,850 of new construction in the county, with the largest property value increases occurring in agricultural land and state assessed property. Overall property tax collection will increase $121,975. Total county tax dollars collected will be $2,622,299.
    The 28.28 2017 mill levies include the general fund at 21.45, road and bridge 4.23, social service fund 1.60 and capital expenditure fund 1.00.
    The County general fund budget increased $204,439 from $3,293,419 in 2017 to $3,497,858 in 2018. The board approved a flat $30/month of additional pay per qualified employee, regular employee step increases, increased health care costs and limited capital expenditure requests. Most other budget items remain stable. The salary compensation plan put in place Jan. 1, 2000, will be adjusted 1 percent for cost of living in 2018.
    The County’s health insurance increased 6 percent overall. The County picks up a majority of the increase, but employees also pay from 20 percent to 35 percent of the premium, depending on their plan. Their costs increased proportionally. The County provides five health plans, all carrying a deductible which the County will again pick up in 2018.
    The County has been paying 100 percent of the single health insurance plan for elected officials because of the long period of no salary increase. The commissioners decided to revert to paying 80 percent of the single plan (same as other County employees) after someone is re-elected.
    The 911 board completed a major console upgrade and added a second position at the communications center. The revised cost was $163,857. The County is now working with the city of Sterling for part of the comm center backup needs. This means the County will not need to purchase a new recording device. All the first responding agencies who are dispatched by the comm center agreed to participate in a financing package to help fund the upgrade. The Heginbotham Trust also provided $30,000 toward the project.
    The road and bridge budget went from $2,103,449 in 2017 to $2,115,221 in 2018. The fund balance for road and bridge has vastly improved. Highway Users Tax Fund from federal and state gas taxes continue to be the major revenue for road and bridge. The estimated HUTF income for 2018 is $1,275,967, a decrease of $17,671 from 2017 projections. The mill levy for road and bridge will be 4.23 for 2018.
    The County road and bridge fund has no outstanding lease-purchase agreements. In 2018, the County will be in the third year of leasing three John Deere graders. The annual cost of the lease is $62,898.
    Other County fund budgets include the human services fund of $1,008,767 (an increase of $99,965 over last year), contingency fund at $170,101, conservation trust fund (lottery funds) of $78,059, E911 fund of $139,530 and economic development fund of $60,013.
    The capital expenditure fund has a budget of $478,800. Initial projects include new carpet in some courthouse offices and painting the courthouse main floor. Capital expenditure funds may have to be used to cover additional costs of the new pavilion.
    In 2017, the County repaved the east courthouse parking lot, repaired the courthouse roof parapet, repaired the concrete vestibule roof east of the coal bin, rerouted roof drainage off the courthouse and communications center roofs, and put new carpet in the courtroom and third-floor jury/meeting room. Grants were obtained to offset approximately half of these costs. The County will continue to work on a solution for repairing the coal bin roof in 2018.
    A new fund was created for the Fairgrounds Pavilion and Education Center project in 2017. The budget assumes a higher cost than originally anticipated and has been set at $2,100,271. Fundraising began in January 2016 for the new Fairground Pavilion and Education Center. The project is largely dependent on obtaining grants, local fundraising events, and donations.
    The fundraising effort currently sits at about $1,587,300 (76 percent of the goal). The fundraising grant efforts include $550,000 from the Colorado Energy Impact Fund, $125,000 from the Daniels Fund, $100,000 from the Heginbotham Trust, $30,000 from the Boettcher Foundation, $20,000 from the El Pomar Foundation, $7,500 from the Anschutz Family Foundation, and $5,000 from DuPont/Pioneer.
    The County fair fund has a 2018 budget of $92,400. The county commissioners have contracted with B&B Investments Co. LLC doing business as PCR Phillips County Raceway (Joe Bellm) to run the races for 2018.
    The Fair Board utilizes ticket sales, contributions and the current fund balance to fund the annual county fair event amount. While the County does maintain and improve the facilities at the fairgrounds, those funds are taken out of the general fund allocation for fairgrounds improvement. The County will again provide $5,000 toward the Haxtun Corn Festival.