Denver Mayor Johnston unveils slim spending plan for city
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Denver Mayor Mike Johnston and City CFO Nicole Doheny present his 2025 city budget. Photo: Esteban L. Hernandez/Axios
Denver's general fund will grow just 0.6% over last year's budget — the lowest growth rate in 14 years, not counting the pandemic — under a proposal presented Thursday by Mayor Mike Johnston.
The big picture: The $1.76 billion in discretionary spending for 2025 reduces spending for migrant services by $77 million and the mayor's signature homeless initiative program by $84 million.
Why it matters: Johnston framed his second spending plan as mayor as reducing the government's size while investing in priorities like affordability, safety and vibrancy.
Between the lines: Sales taxes, which city chief financial officer Nicole Doheny says historically make up about 55% of the city's budget, are projected to soften next year, but will still generate about $951 million.
- Still, the city projects sales tax revenue to increase by over 1%, finance department spokesperson Laura Swartz tells us.
Zoom in: The spending plan includes $57.5 million for the All in Mile High program placing people experiencing homelessness into shelters and $12.5 million toward newcomers — both significantly less amounts than in 2024.
Other major spending includes:
- $27.6 million toward workforce development to draw more talent to the city, which the mayor's administration says will "strengthen" the local economy.
- $60 million toward creating and preserving nearly 1,400 affordable homes.
- $11.9 million on three more police recruiting classes — in addition to the three classes adding 167 new officers this year — to add 168 new police officers, plus 24 firefighters and 60 new sheriffs deputies.
- $13.4 million toward sustainability, including $6 million toward electrifying the city's vehicle fleet and $7.4 million to build the infrastructure to charge them.
- $8.5 million will be spent on children's programs that will help pay for affordable child care, afterschool activities and youth violence prevention.
Threat level: The budget includes 9,738 full-time city employees, but involves eliminating 200 positions — though Johnston says this won't entail furloughs or layoffs.
- This will be largely completed by not filling vacant positions, per Swartz.
Stunning stat: The proposed spending plan marks the first time since 2012 that the city's staff numbers won't grow.
What's next: The Denver City Council is responsible for approving the budget, and will begin public hearings next week to discuss the spending plan and propose changes.
- The deadline to pass the budget is Nov. 12.