Denver's Council adopted the 2027 budget 8-3, a year after it deadlocked on the last one

The Denver City Council adopted the 2027 budget on Monday, Nov. 9, by a vote of 8-3, the city announced that evening. The General Fund budget is about $1.684 billion, according to the Denver Gazette.

Why it matters: the vote ends the Council's part in this year's budget fight. Mayor Mike Johnston had already accepted all five Council amendments on Nov. 6 (our story), so there were no overrides to take up.

Who voted how: not posted yet

As of Tuesday morning, Nov. 10, the city's legislative records for the meeting say actions and results "are not available" because the minutes haven't been finalized. The budget is 26-1547. We will add the roll call when it posts.

One detail is visible already. The Council has 12 seated members until the new at-large member is sworn in, and 8 plus 3 is 11, so one member did not vote or was absent.

Why the vote mattered less than it sounds, and more

Under the charter, as the Council's budget process page explains, if the Council doesn't pass a budget on the deadline, the mayor's proposal as amended by the Council, minus any vetoes that weren't overridden, becomes the official budget anyway. The mayor's Nov. 6 announcement said the amended budget "will now become the city's official 2027 Budget," and the Gazette and Colorado Politics described it as adopted that day.

So Monday's vote didn't decide whether Denver has a budget. It did put each member on record.

What our records add: the last two years

2026 budget: failed 6-6. On Nov. 10, 2025, the motion to adopt the 2026 budget failed on a tie (roll call). Voting no: Flor Alvidrez, Stacie Gilmore, Serena Gonzales-Gutierrez, Paul Kashmann, Shontel Lewis and Amanda Sawyer. Voting yes: Kevin Flynn, Chris Hinds, Diana Romero Campbell, Jamie Torres, Darrell Watson and Amanda Sandoval. Sarah Parady was absent. The budget took effect anyway, Colorado Politics reported.

2025 budget: passed 13-0. On Nov. 12, 2024, all 13 members voted yes (roll call).

This year's 8-3 is in between. Since only six of the current members voted yes last year, at least two members who voted no on the 2026 budget voted yes on this one. Which two won't be known until the roll call posts.

What's in it

The amended budget raises the TRUA rent and utility aid program to $8.5 million, up from the $4.5 million Johnston proposed but well below the $15.1 million budgeted for 2026, according to the Gazette. Contingency falls to 2.01% of General Fund spending, just over the 2% charter floor. The city projects revenue growth of 1.1% in 2027 (city budget page).

"A budget is more than dollars and cents," Johnston said in the city's release.

What's next

Nov. 10: The Long Bill, 26-1638, and its companion bills go to the Mayor-Council meeting. They include a $15.4 million transfer from the Climate Protection Fund to capital projects (26-1639) and a $16.1 million rescission of unused capital money (26-1641).

By Nov. 23: Final Council vote on the Long Bill.

Nov. 10 in committee: The year-end bill that spends the rest of this year's contingency (our story).