Safety, Quality of Life focus of Mayor’s 2008 Budget Proposal

Mayor John Hickenlooper delivered a balanced budget plan to Denver City Council, reflecting the administration’s focus on effective and efficient delivery of core services to citizens of the Mile High City.

The $866 million FY 2008 Budget Proposal represents 3% growth over 2007, and includes $44.5 million for capital projects.

"The proposed 2008 budget reflects our continued efforts to generate efficiencies within our existing programs and align limited additional resources with critical priorities that best and most directly serve the needs of our citizens," says Hickenlooper in a letter to City Council and Denver residents. "The 2008 budget continues our focus of making strategic investments in the areas we believe will bring us the highest return relative to our priorities as a community, as well as constantly seeking improvement and efficiency in our operations."

A combination of economic factors, including the downtown in the housing industry, continues to impact forecasted revenue growth. Still, the Mayor’s office says Denver and the metro region continue to benefit from growth in tourism, the commercial real estate market and jobs, leading to expected moderate revenue growth.

Some budget highlights include:

• A continued focus on safety as the foundation of our quality of life and economic health, including increased efforts to reduce crime through the Crime Prevention and Control Commission, the use of DNA technology in the Crime Lab, ongoing investments in personal protective equipment, and increased safety recruitment efforts to diverse populations.
• Funding for the purchase of two new fire trucks to maintain our replacement schedule and ensure that our Fire Department is equipped to provide effective and timely responses.
• Maintaining sustainable neighborhoods by adding new graffiti removal crews.
• Restoring Library services by adding additional eight-hour days to six Denver Public Library branches that specialize in children’s programming.
• Enhancing sustainability efforts by replacing some inefficient irrigation systems, enhancing recycling efforts and supporting multi-modal transportation.

As currently constructed, the proposed 2008 capital budget assumes the status quo in terms of funding, but the administration has also prepared a detailed plan of how – pending voter approval – the additional resources generated by the maintenance mill levy would be used to address the City’s currently unfunded maintenance needs. 

 "This balanced budget addresses Denver’s key needs in a fiscally prudent manner," said Claude Pumilia, chief financial officer for the City and County of Denver. 

The Mayor and City Council will hold departmental budget briefings beginning September 20th. Based on input during this review period, the Mayor will submit a recommended budget by October 15 to be followed by a public hearing on October 22 and additional City Council input. City Council will adopt a budget by November 12 and must enact an ordinance making FY 2008 appropriations by November 26, 2007.

A complete copy of the proposed 2008 budget is available at www.denvergov.org/budget.