Decrease in county valuation leads to smaller 2025-26 budget

On July 10, Big Horn County approved the appropriation resolution for 2025-26. 

Deb Craft, chairman of the county commission, said the county valuation this year is down $17,709,901 from last year, and down $44,418,204 from the previous year. 

In addition, the Secure Rural Schools funding is no longer being issued, resulting in a loss of $307,420.

“There are many other reductions including property tax that are not fully known at this time,” Craft said. “When we started our budgeting process this year, our initial shortfall was over $4 million.” 

 She continued that department budgets saw reductions in almost every budget category. Each department was asked to trim their budget by 10% from the year before. Craft explained, “Many county budgets are 90% personnel costs, and the county is working hard to avoid workforce reductions; therefore, not every budget was able to be cut 10%.” 

In May, the commission froze salaries, effective immediately. They also set a hiring freeze.

“Meetings have already begun to identify cost saving measures, consolidation and reduction in services that can be implemented to help manage the additional revenue drop that is anticipated next year and beyond,” Craft said.

The total budget of $32,336.814.84 includes all sources of funding that come to the county including grants, not just the general fund and what is generated by the county’s 12 mills.