City Council to consider $42M in budget cuts for second and final time

FILE PHOTO: The sun illuminates the Denver City and County Building Oct. 17, 2022. 

 Alex Edwards/The Denver Gazette

The Denver City Council will consider roughly $42.2 million in budget cuts and reallocations as part of Mayor Mike Johnston's plan to fund his immigrant sheltering program. Because the two measures are bills, the council has to "see" them twice before voting, and Monday's meeting will be that second viewing. 

The pair of bills in final consideration are supplemented by a $3.2 million contract with Catholic Charities to provide services to immigrants, many of whom crossed into the United States illegally. Since December 2022, the city estimates it has assisted more than 41,000 people at a cost of roughly $68 million. 

Of the $89.9 million requested by the mayor's office to fund the 2024 program, the city estimates it's spent about $25 million. Officials claim quarterly spending will drop to $15 million for the remainder of the year, and that they hope to not spend all $90 million. 

Here's a list of major bills and resolutions appearing before the council on Monday:

Contracts and Resolutions: 

  • 24-0294: A resolution approving a proposed $30,000,000 with an end date of 12-31-2026 agreement between Denver and ASM Global to provide stagehand services at theaters and arenas, citywide.
  • 24-0422: A resolution approving a contract amendment with Carahsoft Technology Corp. adding $34.8 million for a new total of $41.8 million to purchase various software products, citywide.
  • 24-0296: A resolution approving an agreement with Second Chance Inc. for $1.35 million to provide supportive services at the Residences on Acoma. 
  • 24-0457: A resolution approving an agreement with Catholic Charities and Community Services of the Archdiocese of Denver Inc. for $3.2 million to provide temporary family housing for immigrants and pregnant parents at the Mullen Home, located at 3629 W. 29th Ave.

Bills: 

  • 24-0500: A bill being introduced approving the purchase of eight vehicles from the airport capital improvement and equipment fund for use at Denver International Airport. 
  • 24-0454: A bill in final consideration approving the purchase of ten "mobile detection units" from the Securing Our Cities grant program award to support the Office of Emergency Management with radiological and nuclear screening, citywide. 
  • 24-0499: A bill in final consideration rescinding $5.8 million from the city's capital improvement and capital maintenance fund to support funding the city response to the illegal immigration crisis. 
  • 24-0501: A bill in final consideration rescinding, appropriating and making cash transfers worth $36.4 million from several sources, including the general fund, to provide money for the ongoing city response to the illegal immigration crisis. 

Public Hearings: 

  • 24-0264: A bill for an ordinance changing the zoning classification for 1901 North Oneida Street in South Park Hill.
  • 24-0270: A bill for an ordinance changing the zoning classification for 735 North Race Street in Country Club.
  • 24-0328: A bill for an ordinance changing the zoning classification for 1409-1471 North Julian Street and 3315-3317 West 14th Avenue in West Colfax, allowing for up to five stories of mixed use construction.

The full city council agenda may be viewed online. Those wishing to sign up to speak at public hearings may do so online or by emailing dencc@denvergov.org to submit written testimony.