Denver City Council Makes Adjustments to Mayor’s Proposed 2026 Budget
The Denver City Council recently made several adjustments to the mayor’s proposed budget for 2026 as the deadline for final approval approaches. While some members attempted to make significant cuts to the police department, these efforts ultimately failed.
Now, it is up to Denver Mayor Mike Johnston to agree to the small changes or veto them by Friday. The council considered a total of 27 amendments on Monday, the highest number in recent memory, according to the city’s Department of Finance.
Councilwoman Sarah Parady sponsored the most amendments with 15, followed by Councilwoman Shontel Lewis with 10.
Out of the 27 amendments, the council approved 10, most of which made changes of less than $1 million in the $1.66 billion general fund budget proposed for 2026. The approved changes included restoring proposed cuts in the budgets of the Office of the Clerk and Recorder and the Denver Auditor’s Office.
Two of the most costly amendments, sponsored by Councilwomen Serena Gonzales-Gutierrez and Parady, aimed to transfer about $9 million from the Denver Police Department to the Department of Housing Stability to assist families experiencing homelessness. However, these amendments failed on 8-5 votes.
Despite the challenges, the budget is set to be finalized after Mayor Johnston’s decision on the approved amendments and any potential vetoes.
Neighborhood Groups Recruited
During the amendment meeting, frustrations arose as representatives from the city’s registered neighborhood organizations reported receiving calls from the mayor’s office to oppose amendments that would reduce police department funding. Some neighborhood groups complied, while others questioned the tactic.
One neighborhood association member mentioned that while it is common for the mayor’s office to inform RNOs about important votes, it was unusual for them to urge the organizations to speak against a council amendment.
Councilwoman Flor Alvidrez expressed disappointment in the mayor’s office for trying to recruit groups against an amendment and for mischaracterizing the council’s intentions.
According to a spokesman for the mayor’s office, the information shared with the organizations was factual and part of a standard political strategy.
Approved Amendments
Aside from the contentious amendments related to police department funding, the council also approved changes to allocate more funds for various programs, including Safe Routes to School, crisis response at the Denver jail, Out of School Time program, youth violence prevention grants, Denver Day Works program, and WorkReady program.
Furthermore, the council reallocated funds from its own budget and the Department of Safety and police budgets to support the Support Team Assisted Response crisis response program, which sends mental health professionals to certain calls instead of police officers.
The budgets of the auditor and clerk were unanimously restored, with representatives from both offices emphasizing the importance of adequate funding for their operations.
As the budget finalization approaches, tensions between the mayor’s office and the council persist, reflecting a challenging budget cycle.
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