Paul Backes and Calvin Seneker, auditors with McMahan and Associates LLC, had fairly good news for the Garfield County Commissioners (BOCC) on Monday, Aug. 4. Referring to how well the county manages its budget, Backes said, “I’d like to put you in charge of the federal government.” He also compared Garfield County to Moffat County as the coal-fired power plants in Craig and Hayden begin to close down and the coal mines are on the ropes. “They have a lot tied up in one industry,” said Backes.

According to the Colorado Sun, the power plant and mines provided 43% of property tax revenues for Moffat County in 2023. The oil and natural gas industry in Garfield County provided 66% of property tax revenue in 2007 and, according to Jim Yellico, county assessor, 73.6% in 2009 and 70.2% in 2013. More recently, 56% of property tax revenues in 2022 came from oil and gas and 44.6% in 2024. 

The Rifle/Garfield County Airport, by comparison, does not provide as much property tax revenue as the oil and gas industry. “The airport itself is exempt from property taxation and the hangars, etc. contribute at a nominal level,” said Yellico in an email to The Sopris Sun. “However, the airport generates revenue for the county in other ways.” Those other ways include fuel sales, land leases and hangar rent, landing fees and ramp use charges, commercial tenant fees and access and service agreements.  

Auditors found a few snags with the county fairgrounds financials. “We identified various instances of non-compliance with county policy and procedures related to cash receiving and cash depositing,” said Seneker. He said he recognizes there was significant turnover in that department in 2024, but “policies and procedures are put in place for a reason, and we highly recommend everybody doing the best they can to follow them.” 

He recommended that fairgrounds staff use new software to track reservations. “Delays in invoicing, card expenses, reconciliations in incorrect billings of fair vendors, difficulties providing accurate and timely reconciliations of cash deposits and cash payouts, I mean, that’s pretty basic,” he said. Other recommendations include having the county treasurer involved with cash outflow and receipts and purchase card limits to reduce the risk of employees circumventing county spending limits. 

Returning to the county airport, the BOCC approved a pause of additional land development solicitations until the airport master plan is finalized. The pause does not include county projects underway before Feb. 18, 2025 or county improvements to the airport. The master plan is expected to be finished in April of 2026. 

Commissioners also heard requests from five local nonprofits — the Grand Valley Park Association, Andy Zanca Youth Empowerment Program, Aspen Public Radio, YouthEntity and the Glenwood Springs Arts Council — for $5,000 each from the discretionary grant fund. The BOCC will respond to those requests at their Aug. 11 meeting. 

A liquor license was transferred from Honey Butter LLC to 502 Diner LLC on Highway 133 in Carbondale. 

The BOCC also approved a request from the City of Rifle for landfill fee reductions for the city’s 17th annual fall cleanup, Sept. 22 to Oct.3. “Last year we hauled out 350,000 pounds of trash and junk to the Garfield [County] Landfill,” said Alan Lambert, community service officer for the Rifle Police Department.

He encouraged people to put out unwanted items just before collection day and warned “shoppers” — those who like to find treasures in others’ trash — to be neat about it. “Don’t tear open the bags, don’t leave stuff scattered over the street,” he advised.

Prohibited items include tires, paint, oil, computers, televisions and car batteries. “And please don’t hide them in the refrigerators or washing machines,” he said. “Because we find them in there once in a while and then we end up leaving them on your lawn.” And no putting out freezers with spoiled meat in them, either. “They’re very yucky to have to pick up,” he said.