County faces stiff budget cuts

The 2016 final assessed value for Hot Springs County is in, and some reductions to entities in the county will have to be made.

Hot Springs County Assessor Shelley Deromedi said that last year’s total assessed value was $230,839,867 and this year the value has plummeted to $139,392,004. This means that last year one mill would generate approximately $230,839 and this year one mill will generate approximately $139,392. This is almost a 40 percent decrease in what one mill will generate.

Deromedi said for entities like the Fire District, last year one mill would generate $692,520 whereas this year one mill will generate $418,176.

With Hot Springs County only having 12 mills total, Deromedi said the county will not have the money to give to some entities.

“Each board will have to decide what they will have to do different,” she said.

Hot Springs County Commissioner Chairman John Lumley said when the assessed value drops that much, it will impact the entire community.

“It’s going to cause us [commissioners] to cut several areas we were able to fund previously,” he said. “A lot of stuff we funded before, we just won’t be able to fund. We have to maintain our cash reserve.”

Lumley noted several entities that will not receive any funding this year, including the Thermopolis-Hot Springs Chamber of Commerce, the Hope Agency Crisis Line, Economic Development and the Recreation Center. Though several cuts will have to be made, most funding for governmental entities will not be cut, such as the Sheriff’s Office and the courts. However, Hot Springs County Counseling, which is a county building, will receive no funding this year.

Hot Springs County Commissioner Brad Basse said the original number the Hot Springs County Commissioners were working with before the assessed values were final was $138,912,831. After the final assessment, the number they are working with is the total assessed value of $139,392,004.

“Because of the slight increase, we will likely reallocate those funds,” he said.

“To balance the 40 percent reduction, we have reduced funding for several entities and some were reduced to zero. We’re happy we didn’t have to make more cuts.”

Hot Springs County Commissioner Vice-Chairman Tom Ryan said Hot Springs County is almost $1.2 million short this year compared to last year.

“We definitely have some work to do on the budget this year,” he said. “Everybody will be affected that collects money.”

Deromedi explained the State-assessed utilities are a bit higher than last year, as are the Railroads.

Oil Production during 2015 and Gas Production during 2015 were also a bit higher than expected.

The Final 2016 Assessed Values are as follows:

Currently locally assessed $49,653,970 (-1.86 percent)

State assessed-utilities $6,661,778 (+1.52 percent)

Railroads $4,113,557 (+1.32 percent)

Hard Minerals $2,563,199 (-30.08 percent — No Coal)

Oil Production during 2015 $76,178,950 (-54.32 percent)

Gas Production during 2015 $220,550 (-44.73 percent)

Total Assessed Value $139,392,004 (-39.61 percent)