BOULDER — Boulder County Commissioners on December 9 approved a $745 million spending plan for 2026. The budget is 5% larger than last year’s but includes $5.75 million in cuts.

The County needs to cut $30-$40 million from the budget by 2028 as spending is projected to outpace revenue. 

For example, the general fund—the County’s single-largest pot of money, used for a majority of its administration and functions—has estimated expenses of $183 million next year, but is only projected to have $241 million in revenue.

The majority of the County’s money comes from property taxes. Though property taxes increased by nearly 7% in 2025 according to a presentation shared with commissioners, the County’s collection can only increase by 5.5% each year, limiting the amount of revenue they capture from rising land values.

The budget’s adoption follows a round of reductions Boulder County imposed in September. Thirty people were laid off, 70 took buyouts and another 60 vacant positions were eliminated. There were also $4 million in spending cuts. 

On Tuesday, County staff recommended a hiring freeze for most departments. 

The County has budgeted for 2,244.65 full-time employees (FTE) in 2026, down from the 2,293.82 originally approved for 2025. The budget does allow for some new hires in 2026, including 16 FTE for the recently opened Joe Pelle Center, an alternative sentencing facility

County employees will also receive wage increases, including equity-based adjustments. On average, salaries will increase by 4.5%, but the lowest-paid employees will receive a 10.6% bump, and the lowest paid 10% of County FTE will also receive a 1% one-time bonus. Employees earning $150,000 or above will see a 1.2% pay increase.

Nederland’s EcoPass program, at a cost of $337,000, was also approved for 2026. The program provides free transit across RTD’s system to all permanent residents and employees in and around the Town.

36-acre conservation easement OK’d

Also on Tuesday, Commissioners approved the purchase of a conservation easement on 36 acres of land near Timberline Fire Station 1 for $400,000. 

Boulder County’s Parks and Open Space Advisory recommended the deal with a unanimous vote at its November 20 meeting.

The Forsythe Rock property sits at the intersection of Magnolia Road and County Road 68, adjacent to an existing conservation easement known as Shortridge. The land will remain under the private ownership of John Shortridge, Jr. Trust. As such, it will not be open to the public.

The purchase will be funded by money from the 2021 Gross Reservoir settlement between Denver Water and Boulder County. There are no water rights associated with the property.

The settlement allowed for “for acquisitions of fee properties, conservation easements, and trail corridors.”