Two-year budgets are winning in Denver. Voters only opened the door; the Council decides whether to walk through

Referred Question 2I, which would let Denver adopt budgets two years at a time, was passing with 65.49% yes in early returns Tuesday night, the Denver Gazette reported in a story last updated at 8:34 p.m. Axios Denver had it at 66% as of 10 p.m.

Why it matters: this week's budget fight, from rental aid to the mayor's veto deadline, is a once-a-year process right now. 2I changes the charter so that it could happen every other year. It doesn't do that by itself.

All results here are unofficial. The Denver Elections Division keeps counting ballots, including ones that voters cure after signature problems, and audits continue until certification and canvass on Nov. 24, according to the Elections Division. Current numbers are on the city's results page.

What 2I actually does

2I amends the charter so the Council can set a two-year budget term by ordinance. One year remains the default, and the Council still approves each year's spending, Denverite explained. The ballot language asks whether to "adjust" the budget and appropriation process and to modernize or repeal some charter sections (city's 2I page).

So the next step, if the result holds, is a separate ordinance. As of Wednesday morning, we found no such bill filed in the city's legislative system.

What our records add

The referral vote. Council Bill 26-0864, sponsored by Shontel Lewis, Stacie Gilmore and Amanda Sawyer, passed final consideration on July 20, 2026 (meeting, Legistar). Flor Alvidrez and Kevin Flynn voted no, and Sarah Parady was absent. Everyone else voted yes.

The companion law is already on the books. The same sponsors carried 26-0867, which sets procedures for the mayor and Council to consider mid-cycle budget changes and requires a community engagement process. It passed 12-0 the same night. Flynn voted no in committee and yes on final passage.

The sponsors split this week. On Monday's budget amendments, Lewis voted yes on 11 of 12, Gilmore on all 12 and Sawyer on one, by our count of the roll calls. The three agreed on the process even though they disagreed on most of the amendments.

Why the timing stands out. In October the Council asked for about $26 million in changes to Mayor Mike Johnston's budget, and he accepted about $4.2 million, the Denver Gazette reported. Under a two-year budget, the Council's main chance to push for changes would come every other fall, with the companion law's mid-cycle process in between. 2I doesn't change who writes the budget; the mayor still proposes it.

The idea has been in the works since at least Dec. 2, 2025, when the Council's Budget and Policy Committee heard a presentation on a two-year cycle, according to the Council's Legistar records. Our pre-election explainer has more.

What's next

• Nov. 9: The Council adopts the 2027 budget, 26-1547, under the current one-year system.
• Nov. 24: 2I is certified, if the result holds.
• Then: Any switch would need a new ordinance, introduced, heard in committee and passed on two readings. Whether and when that happens is up to the Council and the mayor. The full ballot text is in the ballot information booklet.