[{"_1":2,"_111":-5,"_112":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87,99],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6138109,"mediaKeyId","5593064-6447747dae3db4beedf259f984cd21ac","parentId",5593064,"title","Council prioritizes $24 million in capital funding: downtown, airport and maintenance top list","audioSeconds",2777,"startMs",11045000,"endMs",13822000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5593064-6447747dae3db4beedf259f984cd21ac&start=11045&end=13822","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5593064-6447747dae3db4beedf259f984cd21ac/thumbnail_11045000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6138109/Greeley-City/Weld-County/Colorado/Council-prioritizes-24-million-in-capital-funding-downtown-airport-and-maintenance-top-list","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6138109-fecd749829e6fb8229d6b18f7dd23bc6/orig.mp4?Expires=1771109552&Signature=dGG40gLvqO~kL2B8xMp6n6mcJdP5MBF6ioreD~Yi6YTAUubTQgpRW08BJyZ7tYTO3KcpScvEcQUkw~tMBkWn8x9AL4-~SKYAdbP4GUr~9OgjJx445Qjhiw1yEAfUjiwWmLf1TllQGRst-etBhNwJAq1PNBnuqNJ3j2PvzBre8tuD7MxlGe7eZjPwLF6yU9yo-FA5-RXWccdGENdnc2yGO0CqsLoFpDKLUZVDkvj8RPGCqzpVM4EIl1jspKD9HZXsIxlJ-iOYXZKQ1j-Xs-zxiP0ODPsvLsFee4DpbV4UyoGzRrgYNWCMp-v5oCZyjqju03sZiVcMpQlEgG9xlfClTA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","City of Greeley","date","2025-07-08T00:00:00Z","article","Greeley City Council used a facilitated prioritization workshop on July 15 to translate preliminary rankings into a working 2026 capital package and to give staff direction for the fall capital plan.

Heather Bergman, the session facilitator, explained that councilors had each allocated 100 points across a list of major projects and strategic initiatives during pre‑work; staff then combined those scores and proposed a “go/maybe/pause” ordering. Based on council averages and the funds staff estimated could be available in 2026, staff presented a starting package totaling $24 million for competitive capital‑fund uses.

The green‑lighted package that the council accepted for staff to move forward with (subject to additional review and outside partner commitments) included:
- Downtown Civic Campus: $11,000,000 for predevelopment work;
- Greeley‑Weld County Airport investments: $10,000,000 for Wing Way completion and related initial construction (staff noted further approvals and county participation remain necessary);
- A treatment of West Greeley that relies on alternate financing sources (staff listed it in green based on that anticipated structure);
- $500,000 for initial Public Maintenance Infrastructure Campus improvements (A Street interim improvements tied to longer master planning);
- $500,000 for Island Grove enhancements (planning/master plan work); and
- $2,000,000 directed to asset maintenance and replacement (critical deferred maintenance such as playgrounds, HVAC and roof work at Island Grove, Centennial Pool shell refurbishment and other prioritized facility repairs).

Why it matters: staff told council the $24 million represents funds available from the city’s most flexible capital sources (public improvement, food tax and quality‑of‑life funds). Several councilors repeatedly urged more funding to address deferred maintenance; others emphasized investments that could spur economic growth.

Council also directed staff to treat the airport funding as contingent: if the county or other partners did not proceed, the remaining $8 million would be redirected to asset maintenance and other prioritized projects. Staff said the prioritization will inform the capital improvement plan updates and the recommended 2026 budget, and staff will return with detailed project scopes, funding sources and phasing options at subsequent August and September work sessions.

Ending: Councilors asked staff to return with more precise cost estimates, partner commitments (airport/county), and the July 22 polling results that will influence whether ballot measures or tax options are pursued to support capital and operating needs.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Greeley City Special Council Work Session Meeting - July 08, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","In a facilitated exercise councilors and staff aligned on a $24 million capital package for 2026 that prioritizes the Downtown Civic Campus, Greeley‑Weld County Airport work (contingent on county participation), West Greeley predevelopment financing treatment, and directed $2 million toward critical asset maintenance.","taxTitle","Greeley City, Weld County, Colorado","taxId",12465,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6138114,"Council staff outline public-safety, homelessness and economic-development ballot options; July 22 polling to guide choices",2308,4714000,7022000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5593064-6447747dae3db4beedf259f984cd21ac&start=4714&end=7022","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5593064-6447747dae3db4beedf259f984cd21ac/thumbnail_4714000.jpg","/articles/6138114/Greeley-City/Weld-County/Colorado/Council-staff-outline-public-safety-homelessness-and-economic-development-ballot-options-July-22-polling-to-guide-choices","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6138114-7756d8b756227b95ce06b453f19e9312/orig.mp4?Expires=1771109552&Signature=ffUiSVD5MJkwZ3oDXFS~Py19H9gzfFphCWXJUYwHB9XaEHKrRdqoHzN5ATHq4HPwWAVkh7DSN8RC6-DqEdZURKApjQtJuYz68VrUq5UVBGkIvxICR~pDn7s5oZz6YJ5GGGB5rUTNy7-2ekdIr9aUS00oF7bkbajvrkEoKPoAjnqvq0o94tDIPXLQS8JbxpyAOnNTa210W6x9UJDzIyM7-WG1ERpcR5VPcvaXH8B2mDMWSLCBm1xW3DUomYY3D9ZjZaRbeOWNsoh2mGRoc5SpmBzLeqLgFVyAI-MylIC5u4hX~phCU734LDfgZaRObcAEvWY1Qr2UKeE1OGhkQcCOVg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","City staff presented four draft ballot proposals on July 15 and told the council that they will return July 22 with commissioned polling and recommended language before asking council to decide what to place on the November ballot.

Caitlin and budget staff framed four categories tested in polling: a public‑safety tax increase, an affordable housing and homeless solutions tax increase, a combined public‑safety/homelessness package, and an economic‑development measure.

Public safety: staff modeled a program of police, fire and emergency‑management investments that would use roughly $13.6 million in annual funding in the full programming shown. That stack included nine firefighters to reduce mandatory overtime and raise the staffing relief factor, several fire administration and prevention positions, a six‑person peak‑demand (alternative response) unit, police support positions (records, body‑worn camera technicians), four Real‑Time Information Center technicians (two for a proposed drone‑first‑responder program tied to grant activity), 12 patrol vehicles and funding for a new Station 8 / joint public‑safety complex (predevelopment and modeled debt service). Staff noted that some capital costs could be offset by future development‑impact fees as growth arrives.

Affordable housing and homelessness: staff said the homelessness team would shrink drastically without sustained funding — homelessness staffing would fall from 30 to 7 and housing‑solutions staffing from 8 to 3 if current grants expire without replacement. The housing/homeless package presented to council would fund: sustaining and expanding housing solutions staff; a home‑repair and down‑payment assistance program; gap financing incentives for affordable housing development; continued rapid rehousing and outreach; operations for a 365‑day year‑round shelter (staff showed a $2.9 million annual operations estimate as the full cost before grants); and an expansion of rapid‑rehousing and permanent‑supportive‑housing services. Staff told council that homelessness and housing staffing at risk included 23 homelessness positions and 5 housing positions once grant funding lapses.

Combined measure: staff described a combined public‑health and public‑safety measure that would fund a subset of the two areas above. They warned of a Colorado single‑subject/TABOR concern that can complicate packaging multiple topics on one ballot question and said shelter funding was not included in the combined option presented because of resource constraints.

Economic development: staff presented an economic development package intended to seed business assistance funds, small‑business loans and grants, workforce programs, a small‑business resource center, startup and incubator programs and redevelopment incentives tied to downtown and the Greeley Technology Park. Staff listed a possible $14 million annual program stack in the polling materials but said it would require a public education campaign; they noted such investments can be long‑term and aimed at generating new commercial tax base over time.

Why it matters: staff emphasized the trade‑offs: separate measures let voters fund one issue more fully; a combined measure may draw broader support but would spread limited revenue across needs. Staff scheduled a July 22 work session to present full polling results and recommended ballot language; first and second readings were proposed for August with a final council decision before the November election.

Ending: Councilors asked for quicker access to the poll questions and results; staff agreed to provide the packet and offered two‑by‑two briefings on request. Legal staff flagged potential TABOR/single‑subject constraints and said language and packaging would be reviewed before any final council placement on the ballot.","City staff reviewed four ballot proposals — public safety, affordable housing/homelessness, a combined public-safety/homelessness measure and an economic-development measure — with costed program stacks. Staff will present polling results on July 22 to help council decide which measures to place on the November ballot.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6138118,"Greeley staff outline $11 million 2026 general-fund gap and options to close it",1254,1943000,3197000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5593064-6447747dae3db4beedf259f984cd21ac&start=1943&end=3197","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5593064-6447747dae3db4beedf259f984cd21ac/thumbnail_1943000.jpg","/articles/6138118/Greeley-City/Weld-County/Colorado/Greeley-staff-outline-11-million-2026-general-fund-gap-and-options-to-close-it","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6138118-fbeffeef8bc00478686779851386de28/orig.mp4?Expires=1771109552&Signature=oYECUsApNUA4nc8TYUC3AK-hVDM1fX3BPvCjOTvhHLQBIzLH3X1PMfrFxvqGW1NaraeDOvm65ggbcHjskJxHKKzLbPSU3rbwg6hiuycn92tanFYJMUhfLa4oFgy4C2fXCkpZPlT-W~7M8F-mououtlgrc5MOBhNCqpJoI-4lTn3qptIYs46AnWmCRv2TtN6iTlXJb5l9jTexlqqEpcVl85TsLpjtn3KGbITExGCRUhCT5pDHenFYRl0Zw5UMvSWicLBjVvMoNPQg8M63rG1icbTz9mjjZqcUBD72fHWpc7Fhz3lznRh33-Um7mTwIslwrDQVP17pxSxQC4E2g7jXAQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Greeley finance leaders told the City Council on July 15 that the city faces a preliminary $11 million gap between recurring 2026 expenditures and recurring revenues and outlined tools staff will use as they prepare a proposed budget.

Kaelin, the interim budget and policy director, framed the slide deck and introduced Robert Miller, division treasurer, who delivered a second‑quarter financial review and identified the key pressures: slower sales-and-use tax growth, muted development activity and rising ongoing expenditures tied to staffing and services.

Robert Miller said the city has several near‑term reserves and revenue offsets that can be used while staff rework assumptions and prioritize spending. He told council the city’s cash and investments total about $343,000,000; to date the city has recognized about $6,700,000 in interest earnings and projects roughly $13–14,000,000 by yearend, above the $8,000,000 budget estimate. Miller also reported potential sales-and-use tax declines of roughly $1,800,000 excluding building‑related collections and about $17,100,000 when building‑related receipts are included (primarily impacting capital funds).

“Overall, if we were to take a look in totality, we do expect to collect or have about $11,700,000 less in available funds than we had originally anticipated for the 2025 budget,” Miller said, adding that the outlook has improved since the prior quarter.

Why it matters: the general fund pays most city services. Miller and Kaelin said over two‑thirds of the general fund is salary and benefits, leaving limited discretionary capacity to absorb continued revenue shortfalls.

Kaelin said the preliminary 2026 base budget gap is about $11,000,000; that figure reflects ongoing staff and wage costs but excludes term‑limited positions that expire at the end of 2025. She said the organization has 63 term‑limited positions overall and that some homelessness and housing staff are funded by grants that will end without replacement funding.

To address the gap, staff have already implemented a citywide hiring pause for backfills and new hires pending city manager approval, asked departments to propose realignments, and are building a long‑range financial plan that will include a 10‑year forecast, consolidated financial policies and debt guidance. Kaelin said staff will return with refined revenue forecasts (including property-tax valuation updates from the Weld County assessor’s office) and candidate spending tradeoffs in the August–September work sessions and with the recommended budget in September.

Ending: Council members emphasized conservatism on development‑driven revenue forecasts and asked staff to prioritize maintaining core services. Staff said the July 22 meeting will present polling for ballot measures and that additional budget work sessions are scheduled before the October adoption date.","City finance staff told the council that slowing sales-tax growth and weaker development have widened 2026 budget pressures to a roughly $11 million recurring gap; staff outlined available one-time reserves, hiring pauses and spending realignments as options to bridge the shortfall.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6138123,"CU Boulder economist warns of national risks but sees local strengths in Weld County economy",1663,243000,1906000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5593064-6447747dae3db4beedf259f984cd21ac&start=243&end=1906","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5593064-6447747dae3db4beedf259f984cd21ac/thumbnail_243000.jpg","/articles/6138123/Greeley-City/Weld-County/Colorado/CU-Boulder-economist-warns-of-national-risks-but-sees-local-strengths-in-Weld-County-economy","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6138123-f10a2c642925381ab1de455bf9cac0a4/orig.mp4?Expires=1771109552&Signature=bR0rNyuORg4mgLvoijiYqLHLbUq8skiAAETWCAk8jOZ-tooQBmWxl8QhFrB~3ujfJvZZ26nKwFKxgoy1YJ6ew32mfOEEsFiImKod8FrN1kfzAWjYn-rzHTzRPua6dDnO3UHYW6P7kEkrP4CnamtCyhe9pDfJfGfuw2HzW9ejP~9HQlYurH~AQ~fZBvegZQH7H5R9fg2K57zvCv8oc0DZy-CgWllL10tftLtckVdaV5wEy2YOJAfg~lxL66xUMoFWonuTrdbkOAX9UzlH38Al6WijSovB6UfAkXIEtYGlbmh-13FaROulrTtOtXNQRjZ2S~Z5NDAPLAkavkigncbX6A__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Brian Lewandowski, executive director of the Business Research Division at the University of Colorado Boulder, told Greeley City Council on July 15 that while national economic indicators show risks, Weld County and the Greeley area retain several strengths.

Lewandowski said the main threats are tariff-related import surges, federal policy shifts and continued weakness in office and commercial real estate, while noting the U.S. job market and local labor-force measures remain resilient. He told council the nation could still post about 1.5% real GDP growth in 2025 but the year will likely end softly after a stronger second quarter.

“The job market has been a bright spot,” Lewandowski said, noting an average of roughly 130,000 jobs added monthly through mid‑2025 and continuing real wage gains over the past two years.

Why it matters: Lewandowski’s assessment frames the revenue assumptions city staff are using for the 2026 budget. Slower sales-tax and construction activity identified in the talk are among the top items staff flagged as downward pressure on the city’s general fund.

Lewandowski showed how firms’ behavior in advance of tariff policy tightened inventories and boosted imports, contributing to a historically large drag from net exports during the first quarter. He also said Colorado’s inflation relief is coming mainly through slower housing-price growth and rent declines in parts of the state.

Locally, Lewandowski said Weld County is outperforming the state and nation on population growth and youth share. He highlighted that Weld’s median age is lower than other Colorado counties, the county has a relatively robust construction and nonresidential building pipeline compared with the statewide trend, and the Greeley metropolitan area’s employment growth has been above the statewide rate in recent months.

Lewandowski flagged long‑term opportunities in professional and business services, data centers, bioscience and tourism for Northern Colorado, while noting threats including uncertain tariff policy and potential federal changes that could shift the business climate.

“Colorado has enjoyed a long period of competitiveness,” he said, adding that the state’s rankings have slipped slightly but remain strong compared with many peers.

Ending: Council members asked no substantive questions after the presentation; Kaelin, the interim budget and policy director, moved the meeting into the staff financial review that followed Lewandowski’s remarks.","Brian Lewandowski told Greeley City Council staff and elected officials that national economic risks — tariffs, federal restructuring and commercial real estate weakness — could slow growth, but Weld County's population and construction trends give the region resiliency.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Council prioritizes $24 million in capital funding: downtown, airport and maintenance top list

Council staff outline public-safety, homelessness and economic-development ballot options; July 22 polling to guide choices

Greeley staff outline $11 million 2026 general-fund gap and options to close it

CU Boulder economist warns of national risks but sees local strengths in Weld County economy