With no questions, a committee sends the bill that empties Denver's 2026 reserve to the full Council

The Denver City Council's Finance and Business Committee on Tuesday, Nov. 10, sent the full Council a year-end bill that would spend the last $11.7 million in this year's General Fund contingency. The vote was 6-0, with Stacie Gilmore absent, on a motion by Amanda Sawyer seconded by Chris Hinds (roll call). No member asked a question (video).

The bill is 26-1710. Our Tuesday story laid out the slides before the meeting. Here is what the city's budget director told the committee.

Why it matters: contingency is the reserve the charter requires for surprises during the year. If this bill passes, Denver will finish 2026 with none left, and lawsuit costs will have used up most of it.

What the budget director said

Justin Sykes, director of the Budget and Management Office, presented the bill (video).

The reserve. The charter requires the city to budget 2% of estimated General Fund spending in contingency, which this year was $33.5 million. Spending from it takes a Council-approved ordinance.

Where the first two-thirds went. So far this year the Council has approved $21.8 million from contingency, all of it for judgments, settlements and claims against the city, moved into the Liability Claims Fund. That left $11.7 million, Sykes said, and this request "would leave us with 0 balance" for the rest of the year (video).

The biggest pieces. $5 million for the Sheriff Department, for raises in a union contract settled after the 2026 budget was adopted; $1.5 million for outside lawyers in the City Attorney's Office; $1 million more for claims and settlements; and $1 million for the Risk Fund to replace totaled vehicles and repair damaged property. Three more requests of $300,000 each go to the Office of the Municipal Public Defender, General Services and the Department of Public Health and Environment, for the Medical Examiner's office.

Rent aid for 2027. About $2.3 million would go to the Affordable Housing Fund. Sykes said that, together with the $1.7 million amendment the Council passed on Nov. 2 (26-1673), it adds $4 million for 2027 to the temporary rent and utility assistance program, known as TRUA (video).

That matches the math in our earlier story. The mayor's October budget had $4.5 million for TRUA, and adding $4 million brings it to the $8.5 million in his Nov. 6 letter. Part of next year's rent aid is coming out of this year's reserve.

Paid by the airport. The bill also adds $5.9 million for police and $1 million for fire in an internal billing fund. Sykes said those amounts don't come from the General Fund; Denver International Airport pays them.

What our records add

The earlier withdrawals. The $21.8 million came in two Council votes: $3.0 million in June (26-0758) and $18.8 million in August (26-1107). With this bill's $1 million for claims, legal claims would account for $22.8 million of the $33.5 million.

Arts and Venues, already moving. Sykes noted a separate $7.67 million supplemental for Denver Arts and Venues, tied to strong event activity. The Council ordered it published Nov. 9 (26-1611).

Next year starts close to the floor. The Denver Gazette reported that the amended 2027 budget sets contingency at 2.01% of General Fund spending, just above the 2% minimum (Gazette).

What's next

According to Sykes:

Nov. 17: Mayor-Council.

Nov. 23: First reading at City Council.

Nov. 30: Final vote.

Early December: The money becomes available to agencies.