Funding priorities include sidewalks
Denver Mayor Michael Hancock has responded with a mixed bag of yesses, nos and compromises to City Council members’ $4.3 million in additional requests to his proposed 2018 budget.
He has agreed to meet the council halfway on its largest funding ask, for closing sidewalk gaps in the city, but pushed back on its desire to allocate more money to a new legal defense fund that aims to help immigrants who are living in the country illegally.
Hancock, in a letter to the council, said he supports adding another $1.5 million for sidewalks, $1 million less than council members had requested.
The mayor rejected the council’s request to increase by $100,000 the money slated to go toward the Immigrant Legal Defense Fund, with the caveat that funds could become available later if necessary. He said he is expecting to hear recommendations by the end of the year about how the city can best work with stakeholders on the initiatives.
“It is important that this work take its course before acting to commit funds, and that private sources are also committed to this effort,” he wrote.
Hancock said his office has identified $100,000 in contingency funds that can be made available, if needed. Council President Albus Brooks said recently that the majority of council members — who have been pushing alongside Hancock to increase city protections for the city’s immigrant community — wanted the money as a line item so that it would be guaranteed.
Last month, the mayor presented his $2 billion operating budget for next year, which includes almost $1.4 billion in money for the city’s general fund to pay for basic operations.
The council members’ additional requests, which would require the city to dip further into reserves or finding other sources of money, included money for everything from a transportation demand-management plan (which Hancock is supporting) and a boost for an elderly and disabled resident tax refund program (which the mayor rejected because more is already available elsewhere).
Hancock also agreed to new funding allocation for cleanup of Bear Valley Park and $60,000 to pay for 10 additional speed trailers. He met halfway a $350,000 request for four additional full-time employees to staff the city’s in-demand financial empowerment center education program.
He rejected a request for $195,000 toward exploring changes at the West Colfax Avenue and Federal Boulevard interchange, saying he wants more information from the state and stakeholders about the work they are doing there.
“While Council members did not identify potential sources of funds for the … requests, we were able to meet many requests through use of one-time funds available in 2017 and through responsible use of fund balance,” Hancock’s letter said.