Auditing Blanding: a $3 million general fund and a city-run electric utility

This series reviews public financial records for Blanding, a San Juan County city that runs its own electric, natural gas, water, sewer, storm water and solid waste funds alongside its general government. ^[1]

Each story names the record behind every figure, and the year it covers.

The fiscal 2027 budget

The council held a June 23, 2026 public hearing on amendments to the fiscal 2026 budget, adoption of the fiscal 2027 final budget, the certified property tax rate and the fee schedule. ^[3]

At the meeting that followed, Councilmember Taylor moved to approve Ordinance 2026-8 adopting the fiscal 2027 budget, Councilmember Ewald seconded, and the council voted 5-0, according to the minutes. The council also adopted the fiscal 2026 amended budget, the fiscal 2027 fee schedule and the fiscal 2027 certified tax rate, each 5-0. ^[2]

The state budget report posted with Ordinance 2026-8, printed May 22, 2026, lists $3,056,265 in general fund revenue and $3,049,265 in general fund expenditures for fiscal 2027. Property taxes are budgeted at $280,000 and a sales tax revenue bond payment at $50,000. ^[1][3]

The capital projects fund lists $4,830,000 in revenue and $4,840,000 in expenditures for fiscal 2027. The electric fund lists $3,183,000 in operating income and $2,541,000 in operating expense. ^[1]

The latest posted audit

The most recent audit on the city's budgets and audits page covers the fiscal year ended June 30, 2023. ^[5]

In that report, dated Oct. 2, 2023, Kimball & Roberts gives an unmodified opinion: the auditors say the statements present fairly, in all material respects, the city's financial position. ^[4]

The statement of net position reports $21,303,044 for governmental activities and $33,044,241 for business-type activities, for a total of $54,347,285. Expenses for the year totaled $8,957,660. ^[4]

The general fund balance was $3,020,935, of which $623,950 was unassigned. ^[4]

The debt note lists a $900,000 sales tax revenue bond and a $341,000 lease revenue bond on the governmental side, and $6,177,969 in revenue obligations for the business-type funds, as of June 30, 2023. ^[4]

The electric fund reported $3,185,556 in operating revenue for fiscal 2023 and $7,614,825 in net position at year end. ^[4]

The electric service filing

A filing at the Public Service Commission would let the city's electric utility serve additional customers outside city limits. Comments are due Oct. 23, 2026. ^[6]