Where the big bucks go in Johnston's now-$935M bond plan
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Denver Mayor Mike Johnston's proposed bond package has ballooned to nearly a billion dollars as he works to sway skeptical city council members before a final vote next month.
Why it matters: Johnston's "Vibrant Denver" bond measure would fund about 90 infrastructure projects — from bridges and bike lanes to parks, libraries and housing — without hiking taxes. But its sheer size and scope are raising eyebrows.
Driving the news: Johnston's team added 15 council-requested projects after members threatened to block the package for failing to reflect neighborhood needs. The additions pushed the price tag up from roughly $800 million to $935 million.
- On Tuesday, a city council committee advanced the revised proposal to the full body, which will decide whether to refer the measure to voters on the November ballot.
By the numbers: The current project list dedicates the bulk — $427.9 million (46%) — to transportation and mobility. The rest includes:
- $237.4M (25%) for city facilities
- $175.3M (19%) for parks and recreation
- $64.3M (7%) for housing and sheltering
- $30.1M (3%) for health and human services
State of play: Some council members remain unsatisfied. They've signaled more changes ahead — and raised alarms about financial soundness, equitable distribution, transparency, and whether the city can realistically deliver.
What they're saying: "$935 million … is an extraordinary amount," Council member Darrell Watson said at Tuesday's committee meeting.
- Council president Amanda Sandoval warned the city's shrinking staff may not have capacity to pull it off and noted that projects from Denver's 2017 bond are still incomplete.
Threat level: Some worry a measure this large could strain the city's AAA bond rating and push Denver dangerously close to its borrowing ceiling — estimated between $1 billion and $1.2 billion — risking a tax hike.
What's next: A final vote is expected as soon as Aug. 4, following a public hearing in the coming weeks.