Parker council adopts first 2025 budget revision, approves VIPs program and several carryovers

The Parker Town Council on March 24 adopted Ordinance 1.630.1 on second reading, approving the first budget revision of 2025 to record prior-year carryovers and supplemental spending requests.

Finance Director Chris Fiendaka and Controller Rhonda Willie summarized the revision and its legal authority in the Parker Home Rule Charter (section 9.12). Fiendaka said the amendment documents carryovers — reappropriations of unspent prior-year budgeted funds — as well as supplemental requests for new expenditures that were not anticipated during the original 2025 budget process.

Fiendaka told council that total carryovers for 2025 exceed $100 million, concentrated in the Public Improvements Fund and the Capital Renewal and Replacement Reserve Fund for multi‑year projects. He described the difference between carryovers and supplemental requests: carryovers were already appropriated in prior years and do not change cumulative fund balance, while supplemental requests reduce fund balance unless offset by new revenue.

Major supplemental items approved by the council included: - $449,000 in general fund supplemental expenditures, including one new full‑time equivalent communications coordinator and start‑up and equipment costs for a Volunteers in Policing (VIPs) program (about $228,000 primarily for vehicles, uniforms and radio equipment). Fiendaka said the VIPs program will not include salaries but will create one‑time and recurring equipment and maintenance costs. - $75,000 to cover a fleet vehicle backlog ordered in prior years and $35,000 for a snowplow cost increase. - $30,000 in the cultural fund for marketing rental spaces and programming. - $165,000 in the Recreation Fund to repair and modernize the recreation‑center elevator that is currently nonoperational. - $745,000 in the Public Improvements Fund for two projects — a waterline for Parker Water and Sanitation tied to the Stroh widening and a Looking Glass Bridge repair — with those amounts fully reimbursable to the town by Parker Water and a developer, Fiendaka said.

Fiendaka reviewed the town’s fund‑balance policy. He said the Government Finance Officers Association (GFOA) recommends 16.7% reserves for operating funds, while Parker’s policy targets 25% for the general fund. The proposed revision keeps the general fund well above policy levels (Fiendaka cited a planned general‑fund balance of roughly 55 percent in the long‑range plan) and reduces reserves in some smaller funds; he said the cultural and recreation funds still maintain adequate reserves despite the supplemental requests.

Council members asked about program costs, long‑range projections and expected reimbursements. Fiendaka and Rhonda Willie explained that Parker Water and other adjacent developers will reimburse specified project costs and that the town’s 10‑year financial plan supports the timing of the carryovers and supplemental requests. Council members noted the VIPs program’s potential to free sworn officers for higher‑acuity duties; Fiendaka referenced Denver’s reported annual cost savings associated with its volunteer program but stated Parker’s estimate of savings is preliminary and the $228,000 is the planned start‑up cost.

The council lauded the town finance team; Fiendaka said the town had received GFOA recognition for its budget and comprehensive annual financial report. Motion and vote: Council member Hefta moved to adopt Ordinance 1.630.1 on second reading; Franzen seconded. The ordinance passed unanimously (Hendricks — yes; Barrington — yes; Wilkes — yes; Dyack — yes; Franzen — yes; Hefta — yes).

The approved revision documents carryovers for ongoing capital projects and funds limited supplemental spending to specific programs and repairs while preserving long‑range reserve targets for the general fund.