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Denver begins 2027 budget planning with stable finances
ColoradoBiz Staff //April 28, 2026//
In Brief:
- Denver starts 2027 budget planning process
- Mayor Mike Johnston cites stronger financial position
- Denver reports $1.664 billion in 2025 general fund revenue
- Moody’s, S&P, Fitch affirm Denver’s bond ratings
DENVER — The City and County of Denver has begun its annual budget planning process for 2027, with a draft proposal expected by Sept. 15 and final adoption scheduled for Nov. 9.
City officials said the process runs from May through mid-September, followed by review and potential amendments by Denver City Council before a final vote.
Mayor Mike Johnston said the city enters the process in a stronger financial position than a year ago, citing improved reserves and stable credit ratings.
“We are only at the beginning of this process, and I look forward to working with our financial experts, agencies, and City Council to ensure we deliver a budget that is balanced,” Johnston said.
For the year ended Dec. 31, 2025, Denver reported $1.664 billion in General Fund revenue, within 0.1% of projections. City officials said cost-cutting measures, including a hiring freeze, furlough days and a reduction in force, reduced expenses to $1.707 billion in 2025 and $1.663 billion in 2026.
The city expects revenue to remain near $1.66 billion in 2027.
Chief Financial Officer Nicole Doheny said revenue growth has remained flat in recent years and is expected to continue.
“We expect this trend of flat revenue to continue into 2027, which means we will need to be strategic and conservative in how we manage increasing costs,” Doheny said.
Denver’s reserves exceeded projections in 2025, reaching $197 million, or 11.5% of expenditures, compared with an earlier estimate of $179 million, or 10.3%. The city has set a target reserve level of 15%.
In February, Moody’s, S&P Global Ratings and Fitch Ratings each affirmed Denver’s bond ratings, citing financial management practices and reserve levels.
Denver’s fiscal year runs from Jan. 1 through Dec. 31.
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