DENVER — Some of Colorado’s largest cities are confronting budget shortfalls driven by declining sales tax revenues, with Denver leading the charge by announcing a $250 million deficit over the next two years and implementing immediate hiring freezes and furloughs.
Aurora faces similar challenges, projecting a $20 million to $30 million budget shortfall in 2026, representing less than 2% of its entire budget. City leaders are considering multiple options to close the gap, with no decision having been made yet.
Colorado’s five largest cities, Colorado Springs, Aurora, Fort Collins and Lakewood, all said they’re seeing sales tax revenues fall, fueled by economic uncertainty on the national level…