2026 is a watershed moment for Boulder’s budget.

Like so many of our fellow community members, PLAN-Boulder County is alarmed by the trends  of our city’s financial condition. We have spent the past half year analyzing the data that is available through the city’s budget website, and have found that Boulder’s budget priorities are heading in the wrong direction. Boulder is at a fiscal crossroads, and the warning signs are clear. City government is growing more expensive, tax revenues are stagnating, and new “fees” are being quietly fast-tracked to fill the gap without voter approval or much public scrutiny. At the same time, major capital projects are ballooning in size and cost, even as basic maintenance needs are deferred. 

In the aftermath of COVID staffing levels have increased significantly, serving as a major contributor to the 2026 budget shortfall. This post details the issues: 2026 Boulder Budget – Staffing

In that same time period sales tax revenues have declined, which is covered in this post: 2026 Boulder Budget- Sales Tax

In order to deal with the reduction in sales tax revenue, city services like transportation maintenance are now being moved to fees on property. Read about it in this post: 2026 Boulder Budget – Transportation Maintenance Fee

Another contributors to budget woes are projects that grow in scope, described here:  2026 Boulder Budget – Costly Projects