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2027 City Budget Planning

At a glance

  • What: Council's review of the Mayor's proposed 2027 budget: a September 21 quarterly financial report, a budget work session (10/15), a public town hall (10/26), a markup session (10/29), and on 10/27 a supplemental appropriation to eliminate a furlough day (see Furlough Day Elimination).
  • Where it stands: On September 21, 2026 the Chief Financial Officer told Council that the 2026 year-end estimate is coming in higher than budget and that some of that revenue has been pulled into the 2027 budget estimates.

Detail

Quarterly Financial Report (September 21, 2026 work session)

Charae McDaniel, Chief Financial Officer, covered the Sales and Use Tax overview for the General Fund, Lodgers and Auto Rental Tax (LART) and retail marijuana tax, 2026 revenue over budget, 2026 expenditure savings, city turnover rates, the 2027 budget and key dates.

  • Leinweber asked where the City will end the year; McDaniel said the year-end estimate is higher than budget estimates and revenue has been pulled into the 2027 estimates.
  • Donelson asked jokingly whether 200 percent year-over-year growth in retail marijuana taxes would continue; McDaniel said it would not.
  • Pro Tem Risley asked why the 911 Authority request was not in the budget. McDaniel said the request came in at a very different amount than the prior year and, after conversations with the police department, they did not expect the number to be approved. Donelson noted the 2.275 million dollars at issue comes from the 911 fund; McDaniel said the amount the 911 Authority passes on per call center employee doubled, a decision made in November 2025.
  • Henjum asked whether the numerous city building roof replacements could be covered by insurance after hail; McDaniel said they are not related to the latest hail and have been on the repair list for a while.
  • Casey asked whether turnover is budgeted; McDaniel said only approved positions are budgeted.
  • Turnover: Donelson noted very large jumps in police and fire turnover; McDaniel said attrition occurs throughout the year. Risley said the numbers imply a 60 percent shift in total workforce (70 percent counting non-sworn positions); McDaniel said that is accurate. Henjum said the Police and Fire Chiefs told her they are losing people to higher pay elsewhere; Chief of Staff Wayne Williams said some positions have higher turnover, which skews the figures.
  • Health care: President Crow-Iverson asked why the city employee health plan provider is changing. McDaniel said the reason is administrative savings and a net expansion of the medical network, with overall value the main motivator. Donelson asked whether coverage for employees in treatment continues; McDaniel said that would not change and Crow-Iverson said that was not true.
  • Henjum said she supports removing furlough days and compensation increases, relayed employee concern that the new carrier is known for erroneous claim denials, supports retail marijuana tax funding for police and fire equipment with industry representatives in the decision process through marijuana working groups, and supports restored funding for park restrooms, with attendants at the busiest ones. She also spoke of how hard it may be to recruit people to run for office given public vitriol that city staff must absorb.

Sources

Log

2026-09-21 - City Council Work Session

Quarterly financial report presented; year-end revenue estimate above budget. Questions on 911 Authority funding, workforce turnover and the new health plan provider.

2026-10-22

Page created from a posted agenda (budget work session 10/15, town hall 10/26, markup 10/29).

2026-06-08 - City Council Work Session

Quarterly financial report from the CFO: revenue about 4 percent above 2025 year to date, sales and use tax about 2 percent over budget, home prices down on weaker demand, single-family permits down year to date, and no mid-year cuts expected if trends hold. 2027 budget key dates were presented.

2026-10-29 - City Council Work Session Meeting

Markup session agenda: 2026 tax levy 3.209 mills (4.279 operating less 1.070 temporary credit, Ord. 26-344), 2027 salary structure (26-349), 2027 Annual Appropriation Ordinance (26-348), and special improvement maintenance district levies. Preceded by the 10/26 town hall, 2026-10-26 - City Council Work Session (Town Hall) Meeting; the 10/27 council agenda also carried Business Improvement District and Pikes Peak Regional Building Department 2027 budgets.

  • 2026-11-10 - 2026-11-10 - City Council Meeting: Ordinances on the agenda: 2026 city tax levy of 4.279 mills (26-344), 2027 annual appropriation (26-348), 2027 salary structure with an additional 1% sworn compensation (26-349), 2027 CSU budget (26-479) and sources of funds (26-480), DDA levy of 5.000 mills (26-334) and budget (26-336), and 2027 mill levies for seven special improvement maintenance districts.