County Commission reviews audit, approves property tax adjustments at latest meeting
Members of the San Juan County Commission reviewed an audit, made appointments for administrators of GRAMA appeals and approved a letter supporting a Bluff grant application at their latest meeting
Members of the San Juan County Commission reviewed an audit report for 2025 as part of their October 20, 2026 meeting.
The auditors did find four key compliance findings including a deficit in the Emergency Medical Services fund, with a recommended mandatory budget line item allocating five-percent of fund revenues to go toward deficit reduction.
Among other audit findings included that some cash and check receipts had exceeded the state-mandated three-day deposit window while another noted that approved meeting minutes had some posting delays on the state public notice website which also has a required three-day timeline.
Another finding was related to internal financial controls with staff turnover pointed as the reason behind an increased number of year-end adjusting of entries.
County officials reported that an outside consultant had been retained to assist in strengthening internal financial accounting controls.
At the meeting Public Health Director Rebecca Benally shared several state health agreements. Commissioners approved a Preventative Health and Health Services Block Grant amendment supporting youth health education and community food pantries.
The commission also approved amendments to grants adding funds for diabetes and cardiovascular health initiatives as well as a grant to evaluate ADA accessibility across county facilities.
Members of the commission also approved a letter of support for a Town of Bluff application for a Rural Communities Opportunity Grant.
The grant is meant to help the town convert the former Bluff Elementary School into a multi-purpose community venue potentially featuring childcare services, business incubator space, job training site and an artisan marketplace.
Commissioners also accepted property tax adjustment recommendations presented by Clerk/Auditor Lyman Duncan and Hearing Officer Randy Kelly.
With property owners in the county able to appeal the values assigned by the county, with some changing and others not.
The decision resulted in a net reduction of $386,065 in taxable property value across the county.
The commission also approved 115 tax abatement applications for low-income homeowners, senior citizens and military veterans.
Commissioners also reviewed state-mandated records request appeal procedures under the Government Records Access and Management Act (GRAMA) with Deputy Attorney Jens Nielson selected as the chief administrative officer and appeal authority for GRAMA appeals.
Additional Commissioner Silvia Stubbs was selected as the county representative on the Utah Counties Indemnity Pool (UCIP) at the groups upcoming annual meeting.
Commissioner Jamie Harvey reported on a resolution passed by Aneth Chapter officials concerning the Utah Water Rights Settlement.
The resolution asks for transparency to ensure the settlement funds and potential water leasing decisions directly benefit Utah Navajo residents rather than out of state projects.
Commissioner Stubbs provided an update on projects including water line extensions and senior center parking improvements at Navajo Mountain.
Stubbs also highlighted the upcoming Blanding Christmas on Main Street celebration to be held on Monday November 30.
Commissioner Lori Maughan spoke about her involvement on a watershed council covering both San Juan and Grand Counties.
Maughan identified needs including a reservoir for Monticello, Bluff secondary water and infrastructure, landscaping projects to slow erosion in Montezuma Creek as well as infrastructure upgrades in other areas in the county.