Boulder Advances $552.6M Budget as Wildfire Funding Fight Stalls

City Council • BoulderOctober 1, 2026

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Boulder City Council on Oct. 1, 2026, moved its $552.6M 2027 budget through first reading. The budget closes a $6.3M general fund gap with service cuts, a higher marijuana tax and 5% to 7% utility rate increases. After hours of debate, the council deadlocked on setting aside extra wildfire money. That decision now waits on an Oct. 22 study session and a December budget adjustment, and several members said the budget process itself is broken.

$552.6M 2027 budget clears first reading. The core budget and the fees-and-taxes ordinances passed 7-1, with Councilmember Taisha Adams opposed.
Wildfire set-asides fail. A $2M to $2.5M Open Space hold drew 3 votes, and a $600,000 alternative tied 4-4.
Spruce Pool survives only through 2027 on one-time money, and the parks board opposed the budget.
CU South flood project climbs to $76M after litigation forced the city to pay cash instead of borrowing.
Police overtime shift withdrawn after staff outlined a relaunch of the non-police CARE response by mid-2027.

A Second Straight Year of Cuts

Why it matters: Sales, use and property tax revenue has been flat since late 2023. Residents will pay more for water, sewer and stormwater service and get fewer recreation services next year unless the council changes course at second reading.

Where things stand: Budget Officer Charlotte Huskey presented the plan. It includes $417.2M for operations, up 2.35%, and $135.4M for capital projects. The six-year capital improvement plan (CIP) totals $827.7M. The 2027 gap of $6.3M follows a $7.5M gap in 2026.

“We are not in a financial position to be all things to all people,” said City Manager Nuria.

Revenue changes include:

A new transportation maintenance fee, conservatively estimated at $3M
A recreational marijuana tax increase from 3.5% to 5.5%, offsetting a reduced state shareback
Utility fee increases of 5% for water, 7% for wastewater and 7% for stormwater and flood

New spending includes:

$10.9M for wildfire
Three new police lieutenants
$5.3M for 144 affordable homes at Alpine Balsam
$4.1M for the 34th Street townhomes and Valmont modular homes
Two positions to launch an Office of Customer Experience, which the city manager said will eventually draw about 17 staff from across the city

The budget also moves $250,000 from the sugar-sweetened beverage tax fund to recreation programs. Cuts include reduced Child Watch at East Boulder Community Center and a reduction to the business rebate program. The city manager called the rebate cut one-time.

Huskey said 68% of city revenues are restricted to specific uses. She also said revenues and costs tied to the Sundance Film Festival are not in the budget and will be handled in a mid-2027 adjustment.

The other side: John Tayer of the Boulder Chamber backed the police and day-services funding. He questioned planning staffing levels and urged restoring the rebate program. “We can't cut our way to resiliency for our community,” Tayer said.

Adams said the city's evaluation and engagement efforts are weak, noting the Fund Our Future outreach reached 509 people. She also said the CIP lacks scenarios for severe water conditions. “I will be rejecting this plan, not because I don't think the staff is exceptional,” said Councilmember Taisha Adams.

A process under fire: Councilmember Matt Benjamin said this is his fifth budget. “Our budget process is fully busted,” he said. He added: “I implore us to look at a 2-year budget.” Councilmember Tina said expenses are outpacing revenue: “Our total revenues sources did grow by $20 million, but our expenses grew faster.”

Decisions and stakeholder impacts: All four ordinances passed on first reading.

Ordinance 8777 (budget): For: 7 (Brockett, Weiner, Benjamin, Kaplan, Speier, Marquis, Schuhart). Against: 1 (Adams). Absent: 0.
Ordinance 8780 (fees and taxes): 7-1, Adams no.
Ordinance 8778 (mill levies): 8-0.
Ordinance 8779 (appropriations): 8-0.

Utility ratepayers, cannabis buyers and recreation users bear the costs. Affordable housing projects and public safety gain.

What's next: Second reading and final adoption come at a later meeting. With six council seats on the ballot, a newly seated council may take up how Boulder builds its budgets.

Wildfire Money: Everyone Agrees, Nobody Moves

Why it matters: Open Space and Mountain Parks (OSMP) Director Dan Burke estimated a full acceleration of wildfire work would require “anywhere from $6.5 to $10.5 million of enhanced dollars.” Any new money will now come through a December adjustment to base (ATB), a mid-cycle budget amendment.

Where things stand: The budget already includes about $10.9M for wildfire, up about $1.6M from last year. It adds $300,000 in one-time funds and a new fuels management program manager. Burke said OSMP wildfire spending grew from under $2M in 2021-22 to about $6M. Staff are pursuing more than $10M in grants.

“This is the most existential threat that we face is wildfire coming through Boulder,” said Councilmember Rob Kaplan.

The proposals:

Benjamin proposed holding $4M from OSMP capital projects, such as the $900,000 Chautauqua ranger cottage. He cut his request to about $2.5M after Burke said the three OSMP-led program areas need $1.5M to $2.2M over four years.
Kaplan countered with a $600,000 realignment for crews and equipment.

Burke said any cut above $600,000 would hit other programs. “Especially if we start getting over $1 million, then we are talking staff reduction,” he said.

The other side: Councilmember Nicole Speier said residents “do not want us to use open space funds for anything other than open space.” She warned: “Otherwise, we risk shredding any remaining trust that we have as a body right now.”

Tina objected to the method. “I don't really want to pick projects on the fly tonight, and I don't think that would be a great form of governance,” she said.

Adams pressed the urgency, warning that a fire could mean “the things that we want to do in that CIP will not even be a possibility.”

Kaplan voiced frustration with the rules of the debate. “You need to say where the money is coming from in one breath, and then in the other breath, you can't tell staff what to do,” he said.

Decisions and stakeholder impacts: Benjamin's hold drew 3 hands in a non-binding straw poll. Kaplan's proposal tied 4-4 against waiting until after Oct. 22.

“There's not a majority on either, which implies the status quo,” said Mayor Aaron Brockett. Huskey cautioned that year-end adjustments are not designed for “large sweeping multimillion-dollar draws.”

What's next: Staff will present a full wildfire prioritization at an Oct. 22 study session. Any funding shift would follow in the December ATB.

Spruce Pool Gets a One-Year Reprieve

Why it matters: Without ongoing funding, the pool's future after 2027 rests with next year's council.

Where things stand: Staff said pool chemical costs are up 12% and gas and electric costs are up 40%. They also said Spruce serves fewer swimmers than other city pools. “One-time dollars will fund Spruce Pool operations through the end of 2027,” Huskey said.

Parks and Recreation Director Ali Rhodes said the Parks and Recreation Advisory Board opposed the budget because “Parks and Recreation is generally underfunded to begin with.”

The other side: Advocates cited the pool's value for seniors, people with disabilities and young families.

Public commenter Evan Ravitz suggested covering the pool's roughly $150,000 annual cost by cutting communications specialists.
Public commenter CJ Joplin-Jack proposed a season pass for seniors and people with disabilities.
Public commenter Mary Gorman, speaking for pool advocates, urged council to direct Parks and Recreation to find new revenue.

Separately, Catherine Sundvall, a coordinator for a Hogan-Pancost botanic garden proposal, asked council to redirect $1M planned for tennis courts at that site. Rhodes said formal tribal partners found no site-specific significance there. She added that the courts would use less than 25% of the property. Adams urged consultation that is “council-to-council, leader-to-leader.” The budget did not change.

Decisions and stakeholder impacts: Mayor Pro Tem Tara Weiner asked council to consider raising parks funding when money allows. “The fact that it's one-time funding does not mean that there's an intention to close it in 2028,” Brockett said.

CU South Flood Project Hits $76M

Why it matters: Litigation is reshaping the cost and timeline of the South Boulder Creek flood mitigation project, and most of the site is closing to the public.

Where things stand: Utilities Director Joe Tadiucci said a bid of about $61M assumed bond financing over three years. He said the legal challenge forced the city to pay cash over five years instead. Answering Speier, he said this “adds $10 million to the cost. So it's now up to $76 million.”

“Starting on Monday, the majority of that site is going to be closed,” Tadiucci said. A southwestern portion will remain accessible.

The other side: Residents including Aaron Stone, Chelsea Blake and a commenter who identified herself as Monica called the project secretive, environmentally destructive and over budget. They noted the appeal now before the Colorado Supreme Court. Monica claimed utility bills would rise $9 a month. “That's actually not accurate,” Tadiucci said.

Benjamin said two community votes give “a clear mandate from community to move forward.” Margaret Lecomte disagreed, saying voters approved “the annexation of CU South, which had absolutely nothing to do with the dam.”

What's next: The project's length and cost depend on the outcome of the pending appeal.

Police Overtime Shift Withdrawn as CARE Retools

Where things stand: Adams proposed redirecting part of roughly $1.2M in police overtime to mental health partner organizations that would handle non-emergency 911 calls. She argued the earlier CARE pilot ran too briefly and lacked department buy-in.

Wendy Schwartz of Housing and Human Services said the pilot “averaged less than one response per day,” leaving dedicated staff underused. The city is retooling with clinicians drawn from across the department, and draft dispatch protocols are under review. Schwartz described a “soft launch before the end of the year” and more refined dispatch “by mid-2027.”

Decisions and stakeholder impacts: Adams withdrew her amendment. Brockett, who championed CARE, endorsed the reorganization.

Front Range rail: Council voted 8-0 in a straw poll directing staff to draft a resolution supporting the Front Range Passenger Rail sales tax measure for CoCo train service from Fort Collins through Boulder to Denver and Pueblo.
Naropa housing: No member called up the site review for about 135 homes on Naropa's Arapahoe campus, which preserves Lincoln Hall and three champion trees.
Small cell towers: The city manager said federal and state law allow 5G small cell towers “by right” and that she will raise neighborhood notification with legislators.
Antisemitism condemned: Brockett called one open-comment speaker's divestment remarks “anti-Semitic,” and staff said they will post investment policy information on Hotline.
Valmont Butte: Staff are drafting a cross-departmental plan with the Sheriff's Office for the city-owned site, after a resident cited contamination and encampments.

Looking ahead: The wildfire study session is Oct. 22. The rail resolution is slated for council's next business meeting. Second reading of the budget ordinances is still to be scheduled, and staff will debrief on Boulderthon road-closure requirements for future events.

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