Las Animas County Adopts 2026 Budget, Sets Mill Levy
County commissioners adopted the 2026 budget and set the mill levy at 9.372 mills during a Dec. 16 meeting, finalizing budget business as they closed out 2025. The spending plan and recent state law changes promise to reshape property tax bills and the county response to water rights issues, which matters for homeowners, service recipients, and agricultural interests across the county.
Las Animas County commissioners approved a roughly 64 million dollar appropriation package for 2026 and fixed the county mill levy at 9.372 mills during their Dec. 16 meeting, completing budget actions as officials wrapped up 2025. The adopted budget directs about 22.8 million dollars to general operations, 3.3 million dollars to the sheriff's office, approximately 581,674 dollars to the municipal airport, 4.85 million dollars for capital expenditures, 2.88 million dollars to contingency, and roughly 18.3 million dollars for human services.
County officials cautioned that recent state legislation, including measures listed as HB24B 1001, will affect how assessed values and rates appear on tax statements. Residents should expect changes and potential confusion when tax bills arrive, as school district assessment rate adjustments are likely to push many taxpayers' bills higher even while some local government rates decline, county assessor Jodi Amato told commissioners. That combination will require careful review by property owners and may alter the immediate tax burden for households and farms.
Beyond tax matters, commissioners revisited a county farm lease that is tied to 16 shares of the Southside Ditch. The board directed county staff to rewrite lease terms to provide stronger protections for county water rights, a move that speaks to broader concerns about water management and legal protections for rural counties. The decision highlights how water allocation and infrastructure agreements can intersect with county land use and fiscal exposure.
Other actions at the meeting included change orders on courthouse ADA projects and a decision to purge uncollectible delinquent mobile home taxes from county records. Commissioners also discussed longer term water policy implications for rural counties, signaling that 2026 will require continued attention to both revenue stability and resource management. For Las Animas County residents, the budget sets priorities for local services while the tax statement changes and water lease revisions will have direct implications for household finances and agricultural operations in the months ahead.
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