County finance director reports FY26 budget status; staff flag 1.5% COLA plus steps as planning focus for 2027

Carmen Arias de Candelotti, El Paso County’s Budget and Finance Director, briefed the commissioner's court Dec. 18 on the county’s fiscal-year 2026 financials and preliminary cost estimates for fiscal-year 2027 compensation scenarios.

Current status: Arias reported the county’s adopted FY26 budget totals about $635 million, with the General Fund at roughly $495.5 million and a debt-service fund of about $46.48 million. She told commissioners that most property-tax receipts arrive in December through February and that the county’s year-to-date revenue and expenditure metrics remain in early-cycle ranges.

COLA and step cost scenarios: Staff presented several cost scenarios for non‑collective-bargaining employees, including combinations of 1%–3% cost-of-living adjustments (COLA) and a separate annual step pool. Arias said the recommended planning option for 2027 is 1.5% COLA plus step increases (staff estimated that combination at roughly $7.23 million total for the General Fund), while noting the county would also need to consider retirees and benefits impacts.

Why it matters: Commissioners asked about the timing and the effect of potential workforce cost pressures, including the county’s ability to recruit and retain staff amid regional construction and development. Arias said the budget team will continue refining assumptions, factor retiree considerations and coordinate program-and-service inventories to support the 2027 budget development process.

Next steps: Staff will continue outreach with elected officials and department heads through January and seek to present a first revenue forecast and quarterly review for FY26 in coming months. Several commissioners emphasized the importance of tracking program-level spending and engaging departments in a program-and-service inventory.