The Crested Butte News Serving the Gunnison Valley since 1999
“All funds are in good financial health”
By Kendra Walker
During their November 4 meeting, Mt. Crested Butte town council held a public hearing and approved the first reading of an ordinance adopting the town’s 2026 budget. The town received no public comment. The budget will also include a resolution to set the mill levy, which town staff will bring before the council when they get the final certification of assessed values in December.
The town council worked with town staff on the budget during work sessions on October 7 and 21.
“The 2026 budget has been put together with a view of continued optimism that has come with strong revenues in all funds over the last two years,” said town finance director Karl Trujillo. “The Town has seen an increase of 45% in sales tax collections since 2021 and a 72% increase since 2019. We are projecting to be down 5% in 2025 and flat in 2026. I do think that with a good snowy year or one big new building permit pulled we could see a big increase in revenues next year.”
“Total revenues for all funds in 2026 are $13,974,524 and total expenditures will be $16,665,705,” said Trujillo. “It is important to note that with our strong revenues over the next five years we will be able to transfer about $4,800,000 to the Capital Projects fund and keep our General Fund reserves 35% to 50% of total expenditures.”
Trujillo also noted that 2025 assessed values are flat so 2026 and 2027 property tax collections will remain the same in both the General and Capital Funds. Property tax revenues will be $1,961,000, and the town is budgeting $700,000 for construction related revenues.
The town’s big-ticket item will be working on a $2.5 million project to repair Cinnamon Mountain Road. The town was denied an $850,000 DOLA grant to help with that project, so has increased a transfer from the General Fund to the Capital Fund and will also use Admissions Tax funds to fund the project. The town also plans to purchase two new police vehicles and lease a new sweeper.
The town’s full-time employee numbers will remain the same, according to Trujillo, with health insurance costs projected to increase by 4% and payroll increases at 4.1%.
