2025 Budget Summary

The figures below summarize the estimated revenues and proposed expenditures included in the 2025 Budget by fund and department, the sources and uses of funds by type, and the recommended Authorized Staffing Level by full-time equivalent (FTE) for each department. You can also access summary budget schedules in their traditional format.

2025 Budget Sources and Uses

2025 Budget Summary Schedule

Mesa County receives revenues to fund programs and services from a variety of sources. Just over $2 of every $5 the County expects to collect in 2025 comes from taxes, namely sales, use, and property taxes. Payments from other governments, especially the State and Federal government, make up the next largest revenue source and account for roughly 32% of estimated 2025 revenues. User charges and fees account for just under a fifth of all County revenues and include a number of sources, from fees paid by residents for motor vehicle registration and animal licensing to charges between County departments to pay for things like fleet maintenance and insurance contributions. 

The General Fund receives the majority of County revenue, mostly from sales, use, and property taxes. These and other "general revenue" sources are not tied to a specific department and may be appropriated to fund a variety of government purposes. While most departments do not receive a significant amount of direct or program-specific revenues, the Department of Human Services receives roughly 80% of its budget in any given year from State and Federal funding. Other departments with significant dedicated revenue sources include the Sheriff and District Attorney (Public Safety Sales Tax) and Public Works (Highway Users Tax).

Explore the charts below to see the County's revenues broken down by source, fund, and department/function and learn more.

Sources of Funds

Total Revenue by Fund

Total Revenue by Department/Function

The majority of County expenditures every year go to staffing and operating the programs and services provided to County residents and businesses. Salaries and benefits for full-time staff make up the largest expense category, accounting for about two-fifths of total expenses. Capital expenditures for asset maintenance, replacement, acquisition, and construction fluctuate from year to year based on needs, priorities, and available funding. The Capital Improvement Program provides a 6-year plan for carrying out capital projects and encompasses most of these expenses. "Other" expenses include a variety of smaller categories, but are made up primarily of insurance claims and grants to non-governmental agencies.

The General Fund accounts for about one-third of the County budget and supports most of our departments, programs, and services. The three largest departments by budget are the Sheriff, Human Services, and Public Works. 

Explore the charts below to see the County's expenses broken down by type, fund, and department/function and learn more.

Uses of Funds

Total Expenses by Fund

Total Expenses by Department

Staffing

The authorized staffing level, set by the Board of County Commissioners, determines the total number of full-time equivalent (FTE) employees each County department is allowed to staff. The figure to the right displays the number of FTE assigned to each department across the 3 most recent budget years: 2023, 2024, and the FTE counts recommended in the proposed budget. The table below provides additional detail on the 28.25 new FTE recommended in the adopted budget.