Cuts made to balance budget

After facing a more than $15 million deficit, Pueblo County finalized a budget Monday, but that didn’t come without making sacrifices.

In order to balance the budget, some of the items the county chose not to put money into are road projects, not giving the Pueblo County Sheriff’s Office more vehicles and giving the Sheriff’s Office nine employees instead of the 30 it requested.

“Our revenues are increasing but not nearly as fast as the expenses that we have to pay for the services that our citizens demand,” Pueblo County Commissioner Terry Hart said.

Commissioners also approved money for 16 community projects that will be funded by more than $2 million in marijuana tax revenue.

This money stems from the passing of ballot measures 1B and 1C this year.

Some of the projects include improving the Runyon Sports Complex, medical marijuana research, a Highway 50 impact study, improving the State Fairgrounds and other projects.

The county said no jobs were cut from the 2016 budget.