Longmont council allocates up to $10,000 from contingency for Juneteenth and affirms funds for boards-and-commissions appreciation

The Longmont City Council approved use of up to $10,000 from council contingency funds to support Juneteenth events and signaled intent to seek ongoing budget recognition for the event in future budget cycles.

Mayor Pro Tem Hidalgo Faring explained the motion and said she expected the council to include the funding as an ongoing council request for the budget process. “I would like to use up to $10,000 of our council contingency contingency funds to support Juneteenth this year with the expectation that it go on in perpetuity but we carve out that money,” she said. The motion was seconded and passed unanimously among members present (Mayor Peck and Council member McCoy absent).

Separately, Council members discussed providing appreciation funding for boards and commissions. Staff identified funds in the City Clerk’s Office budget that had historically been used to support a reception and gift items for board members. Council directed staff to look at available funds and proceed with customary recognition activities using existing department funds; council later confirmed the Clerk’s Office budget contains funds previously used for this purpose.

The motions were procedural and budget-directional: the council allocated contingency funds for Juneteenth this fiscal year (up to $10,000) and directed staff to proceed with board-and-commission appreciation using available department funds. No additional appropriations were adopted beyond the contingency authorization; formal ongoing funding would be considered during the budget process as a council request.