Daily Press Writer
MONTROSE — Despite an uncertain future, Region 10 interim executive director Paul Gray wants to move his organization forward.
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“Region 10 has had a couple of tough years,” Gray said.
The organization provides services to seniors, gives small business loans and helps prioritize transportation funding. It coordinates activities in Delta, Gunnison, Hinsdale, Montrose, Ouray and San Miguel counties.
Gray said the agency prioritized its services last year and eliminated non-essential services, trying to balance the budget.
“Region 10, as a region, found itself over extended,” Gray said.
The organization is borrowing from its revolving loan fund to balance the budget but Gray said it cannot continue to operate in the red.
For 2005, Montrose County was assessed $24,398 and paid $16,860 and this year it was assessed $26,373 and paid $10,000.
The assessment is based on population.
Gray said Montrose County did not pay its transportation assessment in 2005 and 2006. He said the board has considered reducing counties’ priorities for state transportation funding when they don’t pay the assessment.
“Region 10’s programs benefit the region as a whole,” Gray said. “Those who don’t participate put a greater burden on those who do.”
Commissioner Bill Patterson said the county agreed to pay the transportation assessment for this year and was puzzled that it was not in Gray’s budget.
Gray said the organization may have posted money in the wrong area of the budget.
“There may be an internal accounting issue with this,” Gray said.
For 2007, Gray requested $36,167 from Montrose County but he understood the financial situation at the county.
Commissioner Allan Belt said the county has had a hard time communicating the financial reality at the county to the community.
Gray said he would like to help the county educate the community about Region 10 and the county’s financial dilemma.
“People outside of Montrose County seem to understand the financial situation at the county better than the citizens (of the county),” Gray said.
Contact James Shea via email at Jamess@montrosepress.com
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