Alpine County board approves recommended FY 26–27 budget, moves $250,000 into capital projects and $588,599 to reserves

The Alpine County Board of Supervisors voted unanimously Sept. 9 to adopt the recommended FY 26–27 budget, as modified, after a daylong public hearing and departmental presentations. Staff said the recommended budget closes most of the gap identified at the preliminary hearing but still shows a projected general-fund deficit of roughly $95,000 for FY 26–27.

Matt McSally, director of budget and procurement, walked the board through updates since the preliminary budget, including a $278,000 upward revision to property-tax revenue, removal of a $366,000 project already completed, and a placeholder for a potential ambulance contract. McSally said, "General fund 100 has settled at a deficit of about $95,000," and noted the recommended figures include a $447,000 contingency.

At the end of the hearing, staff recommended two specific assignments from the county's unassigned balance: $588,599 to strategic reserves and $250,000 to a capital-outlay/602 fund to build a working capital pool for future projects. The board voted to adopt the budget and the assignments; the motion carried unanimously.

Why it matters: the reserve replenishment is intended to rebuild the county's flexible balance after several years of draws and one-time timing effects, while the capital contribution aims to create a modest funding source for projects that could be brought forward for board approval. Staff said the Park Ranch acquisition will be recorded in a separate special revenue fund and will not change the net recommended general-fund appropriation.

What happens next: staff will bring forward the formal appropriation and any project-specific requests from capital fund 602 as future agenda items. The board adjourned the hearing and scheduled follow-up items in mid-September.