Council asks staff for a detailed airport line-item budget for next fiscal year

Longmont — The Longmont City Council voted 5-1 on July 22 to direct staff to present a line-item airport budget during next year’s budget process that breaks out accounts receivable, spending and staff time tied to airport operations.

The motion asked staff to include current airport finances, outstanding debts and an accounting of staff time devoted to airport management so council can evaluate the operation’s fiscal needs during the 2026 budget cycle. Councilor McCoy moved the directive and Mayor Pro Tem Hidalgo Faring seconded; the motion passed with Councilor Christ the sole opposing vote and Councilor Yarbrough absent.

Supporters said the request was aimed at making next year’s budget decisions more transparent and granular. “I moved to direct staff when we are in the budget process to give us a line item budget for the airport—how much money are we putting into the airport? How much money is it spending? How much do they receive?” the mover said during discussion.

City staff explained that the city already provides line-item and enterprise fund budgets during the process, but the requested motion asks for additional detail specifically focused on the airport, including accounts receivable and staff time. Staff told councilers that enterprise funds generally receive line item presentations and that council members would be able to ask follow-up questions during the budget presentations.

What’s next: Staff will include a more detailed line-item presentation for the airport during the next budget cycle; councilors can use that presentation to ask for supplemental information while considering the 2026 budget.