Mayor rejects city council's bid to fund universal basic income

• Johnston previously endorsed the program; his support is still touted on DBIP's website. 

Why it matters: The standoff could result in the city council using a supermajority to overturn a possible Johnston veto. 

The intrigue: Eleven of the 13 city council members support funding DBIP, per an Oct. 10 straw poll obtained by Axios Denver.

• Nine or more votes are needed to override a mayoral veto.

Catch up quick: City council members requested the money after the mayor's initial proposed budget didn't include funding for the no-strings-attached program, which gives money to people experiencing homelessness.

• The proposal was among 22 recommended changes to the mayor's spending plan. It's part of the annual process to assemble a city budget.

What they're saying: "[T]he guaranteed income had no significant impact on the participants' ability to exit homelessness in this pilot program," finance department spokesperson Laura Swartz said in a statement to Axios Denver on Monday.  

• In a letter to city council, the mayor said next year's "tighter" budget is another reason not to fund the program. Swartz said the city wants to focus on paying for programs like its rapid rehousing model to help provide shelter to people living on the streets. 

The other side: "We agree that the city should spend its limited resources as efficiently as possible but disagree strongly that our data showed limited results," program founder and executive director Mark Donovan said in a statement to Axios Denver. 

• Donovan said his program can complement the mayor's rehousing program, All In Mile High, which on Monday met its goal to house 2,000 people.

Reality check: Of the 807 DBIP program participants last year, 45% across the three payment groups reported having their own house or apartment — despite all starting unhoused, per findings released in June.

• The groups were split between people getting $1,000 a month, $500 a month — after getting a $6,500 lump sum — and $50 a month. 

What's next: Council can formally start making changes to the city budget during its Monday meeting, per a statement from council spokesperson Robert Austin.