Mayor Mike Johnston Shares Revised 2026 Budget Proposal

Mayor Mike Johnston Shares Revised 2026 Budget Proposal

Published on October 20, 2025

Mayor Mike Johnston today responded to requests from Denver City Council for additions to the city's 2026 budget.

"This budget is a reminder that even in the toughest of times we can come together in shared sacrifice and commitment to serving the people of Denver," said Mayor Mike Johnston. "While it is not possible for us to fulfill all of these requests without impacting agencies or employees, this revised budget reflects our willingness to work with Council to address our shared priorities for the good of our city."

The revised 2026 budget utilizes $4 million in interest earned on the American Rescue Plan Act to address several Council priorities, including rental assistance and immigrant legal services. The revised budget also addresses parking citation appeals through a new program and allocates new funding to both the Auditor's Office and the Clerk and Recorder. While it was our intention to preserve ARPA reserves in instances of unexpected project costs or other expenses, we share Council's priorities and will allocate funding accordingly.

The full letter from Mayor Johnston to City Council is available here.

Mayor Johnston's 2026 budget proposal can be found at denvergov.org/budget.

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