The budget hearing is done. Council has until Nov. 2 to amend. Here's how last year's amendments went
Residents had their say on the 2027 budget Monday night. Next come Council amendments, the mayor's decision on them and a final vote. Last year, 10 of 19 amendments passed and none were vetoed.
Denver's required public hearing on Mayor Mike Johnston's proposed 2027 budget was set for Monday night, Oct. 26, at the City and County Building. Now the decisions shift to the City Council.
Under the schedule on the City Council's website:
- Nov. 2 is the last meeting where Council members can offer and vote on formal amendments.
- By noon Nov. 6, the mayor must accept or veto any amendments that pass.
- Nov. 9, the Council can override vetoes, which takes nine votes, and must pass a final budget.
Why it matters: amendments are the Council's main way to move money in a General Fund of about $1.7 billion. The mayor's revised plan turned down several of the Council's largest requests, including $5.5 million more for rental and utility assistance, the Denver Gazette reported. Our earlier story covers what he accepted and what he didn't.
What our records add: last year's amendments
The 2026 budget went through the same steps. On Nov. 3, 2025, the Council took roll-call votes on 19 amendments. Ten passed and nine failed (meeting). Others were withdrawn before a vote.
Passed unanimously, 13-0: money for the city auditor (25-1756), Safe Routes to School projects (25-1757), out-of-school-time programs (25-1762), the STAR non-police crisis response program (25-1771), community violence prevention grants (25-1779), the Clerk and Recorder's office (25-1782) and the Denver Day Works jobs program (25-1839).
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Passed on split votes:
- A second STAR amendment from Shontel Lewis and Paul Kashmann, 25-1780, passed 10-3. Kevin Flynn, Amanda Sawyer and Darrell Watson voted no (roll call).
- Sarah Parady's WorkReady amendment, 25-1785, passed 8-5 (roll call).
- Lewis's amendment for a sheriff crisis response team, 25-1759, passed 7-6 (roll call). It came up during the debate (video).
Failed by one vote: an amendment to shift money to the Department of Housing Stability, 25-1746, 6-7 (roll call); sheriff staffing, 25-1758, 6-7; the Denver Table Consortium, 25-1773, 6-7; and a Broadway bike lane amendment, 25-1765, which tied 6-6 with one member absent.
No vetoes. Johnston accepted all 10 amendments, Denverite reported. The lack of vetoes came up again in the Council's Nov. 10 debate (video at 29:15).
Then the final vote tied. The motion to adopt the 2026 budget failed 6-6, with Parady absent (roll call). Voting yes were Flynn, Chris Hinds, Diana Romero Campbell, Jamie Torres, Watson and Amanda Sandoval. Voting no were Flor Alvidrez, Stacie Gilmore, Serena Gonzales-Gutierrez, Kashmann, Lewis and Sawyer. The budget took effect anyway because the charter requires one to be in place, Colorado Politics reported.
This year, 12 seats are filled. The at-large seat is vacant until voters fill it Nov. 3, so a 6-6 tie fails, and the nine votes needed for an override are nine of 12 members. See our story on the at-large race and close votes.
What's next
- Nov. 2: The Council's amendment night. Proposed amendments will be posted as their own records on the legislation page as they are filed.
- Nov. 6: The mayor's decision on any amendments that pass.
- Nov. 9: Overrides, if any, and the final vote on the 2027 budget, 26-1547 (Legistar).