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Budget
In accordance with Title 29 of the Colorado Revised Statutes, Gunnison County adopts an annual budget that presents a complete financial plan by fund for the fiscal year (January 1 through December 31).
On November 5, 1996, the County's electorate approved the following ballot question:
"May Gunnison County, without any increase in County rates and without exceeding the property tax revenue limit, keep and spend for County services and capital expenditures, in 1996 and each year thereafter, any excess revenues from grants, fees, interest, sales tax, and all other revenue sources without being limited by the restrictions of Article X, Section 20 of the Colorado Constitution (commonly known as Amendment 1 and/or the "Tabor Amendment".
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 Marmot
Photo courtesy of Lori Brininger
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On November 7, 2000 the County's electorate approved the following ballot question: "May Gunnison County be authorized to collect, keep, and expend all revenues it receives from its property tax levy in 2001 and each year thereafter as a revenue change pursuant to Article X, Section 20 of the Colorado Constitution provided that nothing in this question authorizes the County to increase its permanent rate of levy without prior voter approval".
Since the voters of Gunnison County have "de-Bruced" both non-tax and tax revenues, this places the County under the more liberal 5.5% "Annual Levy Law" limit relative to property taxes. The 5.5% limit allows the County to realize all the revenue from new construction as well as allowing for an increase of up to 5.5% in the overall revenue realized from property taxes.
2008 Budget Documents
Gunnison County’s accounting system is maintained in conformance with Generally Accepted Accounting Principals. Gunnison County uses funds to report on its financial position and the results of its operations. Fund accounting is designed to demonstrate legal compliance and to aid financial management by segregating transactions related to certain government functions or activities. A fund is a separate accounting entity with a self-balancing set of accounts.
Budgeted Funds are classified into two categories: governmental and proprietary. Each category, in turn, is divided into separate "fund types".
Governmental funds are used to account for all or most of a government's general activities, including the collection and disbursement of earmarked monies (special revenue funds), the acquisition or construction of general fixed assets (capital projects funds), and the servicing of general long-term debt (debt service funds). The general fund is used to account for all activities of the general government not accounted for in some other fund.
Proprietary funds are used to account for activities similar to those found in the private sector, where the determination of net income is necessary or useful to sound financial administration. Goods or services from such activities can be provided either to outside parties (enterprise funds) or to other departments or agencies primarily within the government (internal service funds).
Basis of Accounting
The modified accrual basis of accounting is used by all governmental fund types. Under the modified accrual basis of accounting, revenues are recognized when susceptible to accrual (i.e., when they become both measurable and available). "Measurable" means the amount of the transaction can be determined and "available" means collectible within the current period or soon enough thereafter to be used to pay liabilities of the current period. The government considers property taxes as available if they are collected within 30 days after year-end. A one-year availability period is used for revenue recognition for all other governmental fund revenues. Expenditures are recorded when the related fund liability is incurred. Principal and interest on general long-term debt are recorded as fund liabilities when due or when amounts have been accumulated in the debt service fund for payments to be made early in the following year.
The accrual basis of accounting is utilized by the proprietary fund types. Under this method, revenues are recorded when earned and expenses are recorded at the time liabilities are incurred.
Budget Procedures
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As required by Colorado statutes, Gunnison County follows these procedures in establishing the budgetary data presented hereto:
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No later than August 25 of each year, the County Assessor sends a certified assessed valuation of all taxable property within the County to the Finance Director. |
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Based on this assessed valuation, the Finance Director computes a rate of levy which when levied would raise the amounts, along with other revenues, necessary to fund the County operating requirements. |
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No later than October 15 of each year, the Finance Director presents a proposed budget to the Board of County Commissioners. |
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Upon receipt of the proposed budget, notice is published within ten days, containing: |
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The date and time of a public hearing at which the adoption of the proposed budget will be considered, |
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The location where the proposed budget may be inspected, and |
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A statement that any interested elector may file objections to the proposed budget at any time prior to the final adoption. |
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Final budget adoption is scheduled prior to December 22 or each year (prior to mil levy certification). |
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The Board of County Commissioners levy taxes and certify the levies to the County Assessor no later than December 22 of each year. |
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After adoption of the budget resolution, the County may make by resolution the following changes: |
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Supplemental appropriations to the extent of revenues in excess of the amounts estimated in the budget, |
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Transfer appropriated monies between funds, and |
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Emergency appropriations, and |
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Reduction of appropriations for which original estimated revenues are insufficient. |
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The Official Gunnison County Budget Document is submitted to the State of Colorado Department of Local Affairs by January 31.
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Office Staff
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Finance Director
Linda Nienhueser
970-641-7622
Email Linda
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Assistant Finance Director
Ben Cowan
970-641-7621
Email Ben
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Office Hours
Monday - Friday (except for holidays)
8:00 am - Noon
1:00 -5:00 pm
* Prior arrangements can be made for services during the lunch hour.
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Contact Information
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Gunnison County Finance Department
200 East Virginia Avenue
Gunnison, CO 81230
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Phone: (970) 641-2203
(Voicemail is available 24 hours per day)
Fax: (970) 641-7643
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Disclaimer:
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DISCLAIMER REGARDING ELECTRONIC VERSIONS OF DOCUMENTS
AVAILABLE FROM THE GUNNISON COUNTY, COLORADO FINANCE DEPARTMENT
When there is a question about the accuracy of language in a downloaded or other electronic copy of a document retrieved in any form from this site or otherwise distributed to the public, the official copy of the document is the document located in and administered by the Gunnison County, Colorado Finance Department.
Electronic versions of any documents offered on this website have been checked for viruses, and as of the date of the file, tested virus-free. Gunnison County provides the electronic versions of these documents without warranty or conditions of any kind concerning the quality, safety, or suitability of the related software, either express or implied.
In no event is Gunnison County liable for any indirect, punitive, special, incidental or consequential damages however they may arise out of or in connection with the use or performance of any files, downloads or other information, including, without limitation, those resulting from (1) reliance on the materials presented, (2) costs of replacement goods, (3) loss of use or data, (4) delays or business interruptions, (5) and any theory of liability, arising out of or in connection with the use or performance of information.
There are inherent dangers in the use of any software and we caution the customer to make sure they completely understand the potential risks before downloading, modifying, using and/or distributing any part or the whole of these documents. The purchaser or user of the electronic versions of these documents is solely responsible for adequate protection and backup of the data and equipment used in connection with any of the related software required to open and read the documents, and Gunnison County is not liable for any damages in connection with downloading, using, modifying and/or distributing any part or the whole of these documents.
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