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The Garfield County Board of County Commissioners in a recent regular meeting.

Garfield County implements temporary hiring freeze

Cost-cutting maneuver necessitated by budget constraints, economic uncertainty

PRESS RELEASE
July 22, 2025

Garfield County has adopted a temporary hiring freeze effective July 21, 2025, for all advertised administrative positions. The freeze is designed to help address a potential $9 million budget shortfall from a decrease in property taxes due to a decline in oil and gas activity.

Candidates currently in the hiring process who have received a written job offer prior to July 21 are exempted from the freeze, which also does not affect offices of elected officials or the hiring of department directors.

The county enacted the hiring freeze “in recognition of the need to exercise fiscal responsibility in the face of budgetary constraints and economic uncertainty,” the resolution reads. “The county seeks to proactively manage expenditures while maintaining essential services to the public, and a temporary hiring freeze will provide an opportunity to assess staffing needs and align resources with the county’s long-term strategic goals.”

Garfield County recently kicked off its annual budget process and the hiring freeze applies to new administrative hires, as well as position reclassifications that result in increased budgetary obligations, the resolution added. The freeze is set to run through Dec. 31, 2026, unless rescinded by the Board of County Commissioners.

“In our last work session, we became aware that we are facing a potential $9 million shortfall on property taxes, and I want to see us address that,” said Commissioner Tom Jankovsky. “This board has no authority over any elected official. We do have the power of the purse, and we approve the budget.

“We are serious about this shortfall and how we’ll address that,” he continued. “We want to enact the hiring freeze now so come January, we won’t have to lay people off. It’s protection for our existing employees. Not only are your jobs secure, but we’ll also be offering merit increases.”

Garfield County departments and offices are submitting their 2026 budgets to the finance department on Aug. 8.

“At that time, we will have a good idea where we’re headed in terms of revenues and expenditures,” said Garfield County Finance Director Jamaica Watts.

Commissioner Mike Samson stressed that the board serves as a budgetary watchdog for the county.

“No penny is to be spent unless we approve it,” he said. “That’s a very important responsibility given to us by the taxpayers and we’ve never taken it lightly.”
The resolution was approved by the board unanimously, 3-0.