Denver Mayor Mike Johnston doesn’t expect the city’s $200 million budget shortfall to lead to any more layoffs and plans to solve the revenue decline that led to it with public investments, he told media at a round table on Wednesday, August 20.
“We’re at this point because at this time we’re losing city tax revenue,” Johnston said. “Tariffs and other policies are changing how people are spending money. Normally we have 5 percent growth in sales tax revenue. This year was 0 percent; that’s what caused this problem.”
Unlike city budget cuts made in February 2024 to handle the influx of migrants, the city won’t be cutting DMV or Parks & Recreation services, according to Johnston. He also stressed that no one lost their job in the Denver police, fire or sheriff departments. Trash pickup and permitting times will be unaffected, too, he said…