2024 Budget and Organizational Goals

On January 9, at their regular meeting, County Commissioners unanimously adopted the 2024 County Budget.

Development of the 2024 Budget provided a valuable insight into the organization as a whole. It afforded the opportunity to look deeply at operational requests/needs and particular common themes. All Funds and Departments within the 2024 Budget comprise a circular mechanism or pie, and all functions are dependent upon one another for operations. Of significance are the following expenditure items included in the 2024 Budget that are necessary to perform a job, secure and protect organizational infrastructure and protect people:

• Security and Safety Procurements for the purchase of software, subscriptions, tools and technology equipment;
• Leases and Purchases of capital equipment such as vehicles, vehicle equipment, and communication equipment;
• Studies and Planning for the Master Plan, Facilities Planning, and a Bridge crossing;
• Personnel expenses including benefits, training, etc.;
• Casualty and Property and Worker’s Compensation Insurance; and
• Affordable Health Care Options provided to employees and their families.

Ouray County will continue to move safely and cautiously with perseverance and proactive planning for the future. The Board of County Commissioners (“Board”) and Staff are actively engaging the services of consultants to assist with the development and accomplishment of goals set by the Board for both short and long-term projects. In addition, the Board wants to ensure that adequate staffing, equipment, security subscriptions and measures are in place to meet today’s demands to position Ouray County Government strategically for the long-term. The 2024 Ouray County Budget was developed carefully and thoughtfully to ensure that expenditures do not exceed revenues, to plan for today and the future, and continue the practice of efficiencies for county operations, accountability, customer service, asset management, human resources management and sustainability.  

The 2024 budget is based upon budget policies adopted by the Board of County Commissioners, Budget Guidelines developed by the County Manager and annual goals developed by Elected Officials, Appointed Officials and Department Heads. Ouray County Elected Officials, Appointed Officials and Department Heads submit their annual budget requests to the County Manager as specified in the Budget Guidelines. A budget work session and oftentimes budget work sessions are then conducted to introduce the effects of estimated revenues and expenditures on the proposed budget. The 2024 Budget was prepared in accordance with Colorado Budget Law. It was developed in compliance with the TABOR provisions of Colorado, Amendment One. All Ouray County Funds are accounted for utilizing the modified accrual basis of accounting. Revenues are recognized when earned and expenses are recognized when incurred. The Ouray County 2024 Budget is a balanced budget. Budgeted revenues meet or exceed budgeted expenditures.

Organizational Goals for 2024

Each year, during the budget preparation process, each department provides their goals for the upcoming year as well as goals they accomplished. Commissioners also create a list of goals to work towards that include: goals to support departments, the Ouray County Response Fund, legislative goals, relationship building, emergency preparedness, and much more.

You can view individual department goals, as well as BOCC goals, at the links provided below.

BOCC

County Manager

Facilities

Treasurer/Public Trustee

Assessor

Attorney

Land Use

Vegetation Management

Sheriff's Office

Emergency Management

Coroner

Fairgrounds

Road & Bridge

Social Services

Emergency Medical Services

Public Health

Property Tax Statements

Your property tax statements will be arriving a little later than usual this year, due to the Colorado General Assembly delaying when counties must certify their mill levies.

However, despite the delay of an actual paper property tax statement being received, it is important for everyone to know that as soon as it is available property tax statements can be printed from the treasurer's website - no need to check your mailbox.

Also of significant importance, is the ability to pay online and schedule recurring payments for future year taxes.

Please see below for details on accessing your property tax information and payment options.

Pay Online:

Pay online with credit card or e-check.

Processing Fees: 

2.4% credit card 

$1.50 e-check  

Pay By Phone:

Make a secure payment over the phone call the number below.

1-844-962-0900

The automated system will ask for your property ID #. That is the account number found on your property tax bill starting with a letter of R, M, N or P. 

Pay By Mail:

Send check to the address below. (Current taxes only, if prior year taxes are due please contact the Treasurer’s Office)

Via USPS Mail:

Ouray County Treasurer

P.O. Box 149

Ouray, CO 81427

Via UPS/FedEX:

Ouray County Treasurer

541 4^th Street

Ouray, CO 81427

Access Property Tax Bill & Receipts:

You can access your current property tax bill, current balance due, payment receipts and more by clicking the link below. 

https://ouraycountytreasurer.org/treasurer/web/

• Click I Have Read The Above Statement
• Click Public User Login
• Enter one of the following- Acct. ID # , name, or Property Address and click Search
• Click on the Acct. Link to open the Acct. Summary page. Under Print Forms there are links to print receipts, etc.

For detailed instructions, you can view this pamphlet.

Upcoming Changes to County Emergency Notifications!

Beginning in January, your Ouray County Emergency Notifications will have a new look. The changes are only cosmetic and will not affect how you receive your messages.

The following changes will take effect:

· If you previously received email notifications sent to your inbox from “OCC_Alerts,” they will now come from “Ouray County Alerts - noreply@genasys.com.”

· If you previously received notifications via phone message, you would receive a call from phone number 866-998-9367 - you will now receive phone messages from phone number 970-633-7100.

· Finally, if you previously received your emergency notifications via text, your previous text messages came from 69310 and will now come from 65513.

Do you need to do anything? While it’s not necessary, we strongly suggest updating your contacts to reflect these changes. For example: if you had short code 69310 saved as WENS in your phone, you’ll want to save 65513 as Ouray County Alerts. That way, there is no confusion when receiving new emergency messages.

Please feel free to reach out if you have any questions: pio@ourayco.gov



Haven’t registered to receive emergency notifications? You can do so on our website: https://ouraycountyco.gov/434/Emergency-Notification-Systems

Sheriff's Office Offers Intern Program to Local High School Student

The Ouray County Sheriff’s Office is excited to announce our new Intern from Ouray High School, Kortlan Nelson. He will spend the next four months working with each one of our divisions within the Ouray County Sheriff’s Office. This internship will provide Kortlan an excellent opportunity to gain a better understanding of not only our law enforcement agency, but the Criminal Justice System as a whole. Throughout his time with us, he will have opportunities to see the court process in action, to work with both Ouray PD and Ridgway Marshal’s Office, the DA’s Office, Colorado Parks and Wildlife and our federal law enforcement partners. In addition, Kortlan will spend time working with our Victim Advocate and Emergency Management. We are excited to offer internships with the Ouray County Sheriff’s Office, with a goal of assisting students as they explore their options within the Criminal Justice System.

Sheriff's Office Promotions

The Sheriff's Office is proud to announce that Corporal Derrick Linnell and Investigator Bernie Chism have both been promoted to the rank of Sergeant and Deputy Mendoza has been promoted to Investigator. We're thankful for their continued commitment to our community and our many visitors! Congratulations!