Greeley City Council Work Session on FY2027 Recommended Budget - October 13, 2026

The Greeley City Council held a work session on Tuesday, October 13, 2026, starting at 6:00 PM. The primary agenda item was the presentation of the City Manager's Fiscal Year 2027 Recommended Budget by City Manager Brian McBroom and Budget Director Nathan Mosul. The meeting also included councilmember reports and a unanimous vote to enter executive session to discuss an economic development opportunity. Six council members were present, with Councilmember Rudy excused.

Reports from Mayor and Councilmembers

• Councilmember DeBoutez announced upcoming office hours and a community event with former U.S. Senator Ken Salazar.
• Councilmember Roth congratulated the fire and police departments on a well-attended open house and reported on a site selector dinner in Denver.
• Mayor Pro Tem McDonald highlighted the Fire Department open house (over 1,300 attendees), encouraged volunteering for the Well Project Connect event, and provided an update from a site selector dinner.
• Councilmember Huddleston announced upcoming office hours.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Barry Eastman, Chair of the Citizen Budget Advisory Committee (CBAC), presented a unanimous recommendation from the committee to adopt the FY2027 budget as presented by staff, commending the thorough process and urging council to maintain fiscal discipline and trust the work of staff.
• City Manager McBroom noted that public feedback on the Culture, Parks, and Recreation (CPRD) budget influenced the inclusion of a $150,000 add-back for part-time and seasonal museum and open space staffing.

Discussion Items

• City Manager FY2027 Recommended Budget: City Manager McBroom presented the budget, explaining the structural deficit (revenues and expenses out of alignment since 2022), the corrective actions taken (target-based budgeting, voluntary separation agreements reducing staff early in 2026), and lessons learned (evaluating full costs of decisions). He stated the recommended budget was unchanged from the September 11 retreat and protects core services.
• Budget Detail Presentation: Budget Director Mosul provided a detailed breakdown. Total revenues across all funds are projected at $481.2 million, with expenditures at $503.7 million. The gap is attributed to capital spending and available fund balances rolling over. General fund revenues are $144.5 million with expenditures of $137.7 million. The budget includes a net reduction of 67.75 full-time equivalent (FTE) positions and a $182 million capital investment plan funding projects like the 12th Street stormwater line, downtown revitalization, and merge interchanges.
• Council Q&A:
  • Councilmember Olson questioned the $22 million gap between total revenues and expenditures, expressing frustration with the characterization of the budget as balanced given approximately $4.5 million in one-time deficit spending remaining in the general fund.
  • Councilmember Olson inquired about West Greeley financing; staff confirmed assumptions about capitalized interest payments.
  • Councilmember Huddleston thanked staff, asked about budget transparency (line item detail added, miscoding corrected via cross-validation), and the timeline for revenue check-ins.
  • Councilmember Roth expressed strong concern about service impacts to Culture, Parks, and Recreation (CPRD), calling the $150,000 add-back a "small drop in the bucket" and advocating strongly for further funding of the department.
  • Councilmember DeBoutez asked CBAC Chair Eastman about departmental presentations to the committee; Eastman stated the committee relied on staff updates to remain efficient.

Key Outcomes

• Executive Session: Council voted unanimously (6-0) to enter executive session at 6:52 PM to instruct negotiators regarding an economic development opportunity, citing CRS Section 24-6-402 and Greeley Municipal Code Section 2-151A5.
• Budget Next Steps: The introduction and first reading of the budget ordinance is scheduled for October 20, 2026, with the second reading, public hearing, and adoption scheduled for November 17, 2026.