Brighton pitches structurally balanced 2026 budget, creates Budget & Innovation department
Loading...
Summary
City Manager Michael Martinez and budget staff presented a structurally balanced 2026 proposal that emphasizes long‑term stability, creates a new Budget & Innovation department combining budgeting, grants and sustainability work, funds new municipal facilities, and plans additional staff for the RecPlex and water treatment plant openings.
Brighton’s city manager and budget team presented a proposed 2026 budget to the City Council Aug. 26 that the city described as structurally balanced for the next 10 years, includes operating costs for new city facilities and creates a separate Budget & Innovation department to centralize budgeting, grants and sustainability work.
“What's the most important thing that you as a council can do? ... approving the budget,” City Manager Michael Martinez told the council, describing the budget as the city’s “roadmap.” Martinez said the administration had worked to produce a 10‑year outlook without the previously projected “inflection point” where expenses would have exceeded revenues. “This is probably the first time since I've been here that we don't have an inflection point,” Martinez said.
The proposal retains service levels and includes anticipated operating costs for the new municipal service center, the museum campus relocation and the forthcoming water treatment plant. The administration also proposed a new Budget & Innovation department (moving budget and performance staff out of the city manager’s office), which will house budgeting, grants coordination and sustainability functions; the presentation showed five full‑time equivalent positions in the new unit.
Other highlights: the budget incorporates target‑36 scheduling savings (overtime reductions), phased hiring for the Brighton RecPlex and staffing for the new water treatment plant timed to actual opening, continued maintenance funding for existing assets and a planned transfer to the water fund to support construction of the treatment plant. Staff noted carryforward funding from 2025 will increase capital spending shown for 2026 after year‑end closes and reported a recent $3 million grant from Adams County for the RecPlex capital project.
Staff also flagged potential Adams County requests in 2026 — including countywide services such as a detox facility, Family Justice Center and contributions to the Riverdale shelter — that may appear as budget asks later in the year. Martinez and staff emphasized the city will continue monitoring these requests and working to preserve long‑term sustainability.
Why it matters: The budget sets staffing, service levels and capital priorities for upcoming years and creates a new department intended to centralize grants, budgeting and sustainability efforts. Council will consider the final proposed budget and the fee/resolution package in October.
