Higher golf fees, a $15 million climate fund move and housing-fee money for the General Fund: the 2027 budget's fine print starts arriving

Denver's 2027 budget fight has focused on rental aid, the auditor and what the mayor would or wouldn't add. But a budget also needs a set of bills to carry it out, and those were filed this week. They move money between city funds, change fees and set up next year's spending law.

Why it matters: the details decide how much you pay for a round of golf or a museum ticket, and where money collected for one purpose, such as affordable housing fees, ends up.

Here is what was introduced Oct. 26 and 27, from our records.

The budget's companion bills

The Long Bill. Council Bill 26-1638 is the 2027 Annual Appropriation Ordinance, the law that actually authorizes next year's spending. The city's budget office says it will file the full text by Nov. 12 so the Council can approve it by the fourth Monday in November, as the charter requires. It skips committee because it carries out the budget as adopted (bill request).

$15.4 million in climate money moves to capital projects. 26-1639 would rescind $15,425,000 in unspent Climate Protection Fund money that rolled over from earlier years and transfer it to the fund's capital projects account, to pay for 2027 projects on energy conservation, climate adaptation and resiliency, and charging-station maintenance (bill request). The Climate Protection Fund is the sales tax Denver voters approved in 2020.

Affordable housing fees to the General Fund. 26-1644 rewrites the rules for the fund that collects fees developers pay instead of building affordable units under the city's Mandatory Affordable Housing program. According to the city's bill request, the main use of the fund would be stated as repaying the General Fund for building-permit fee discounts the program gives developers, with leftover money for housing programs. It would transfer $1,585,299 to the General Fund for 2026, and the 2027 budget allows up to $2 million more. The request says city code already makes offsetting those discounts the fund's primary purpose.

$16.1 million in unused capital money. 26-1641 would rescind $16,124,511.94 from a range of older capital programs to help fund the 2027 Capital Improvement Plan. A list of the affected programs is attached.

Other companion bills set up a fund for Visit Denver's share of lodgers' tax (26-1642), a fund for state peace officer training money (26-1650) and changes to the property tax rebate fund (26-1645).

Fees you might pay

Golf. 26-1651 would raise the maximum green, tournament and membership fees at city courses "based upon demand by tee time," according to the bill request. In the draft ordinance, the top 18-hole fee at City Park, Willis Case, Overland, Kennedy, Evergreen and Wellshire goes from $60 to $67 on weekdays and from $72 to $81 on weekends, and nine holes go from $31 to $35 and from $38 to $42. Adult par-3 rounds at Harvard Gulch and Kennedy go from $21 to $23. The draft could change before a vote.

Buffalo Bill Museum. 26-1652 would raise adult admission by $1, to $6, and the fee for ages 6 to 17 to $2. The active-duty military fee would be replaced by the federal Blue Star Museums program, which gives service members and their families free summer admission (bill request).

Big contracts

• Denver Health, $48.8 million. 26-1622, a one-year agreement through 2027 for medical services to Denver residents, goes to the Health and Safety Committee.
• Boettcher Concert Hall, $16.5 million. 26-1621, a design contract with David Owen Tryba Architects through Jan. 30, 2030, to renovate the hall at the Denver Performing Arts Complex, paid for by the Vibrant Denver bond.
• Energize Denver help desk, $11.2 million more. 26-1619 extends the contract that helps building owners comply with the city's building energy rules to 2031, for a total of nearly $29 million.
• Airport financing. 26-1633 would authorize up to $500 million in short-term notes for cash flow on current airport projects.

What's next

• These bills go to committees starting next week. Most companion bills are on consent lists, which means no discussion unless a member pulls one.
• Nov. 2: last day for Council budget amendments. Nov. 9: final budget vote. By Nov. 23: the Long Bill.
• Watch our meetings page for committee agendas.