Westminster lobbyists brief council on federal and state developments, funding risks for water and social programs

Federal and state lobbyists told the Westminster City Council on July 21 that recent federal legislation and budget moves could reduce funding for programs the city uses for water, transit and social services and that the 2025 Colorado legislative session contained many bills with implications for local control.

Erin Ferriter, Westminster’s policy and budget manager, introduced a combined presentation from federal lobbyists Mike Deno and Mara Sheldon of Squire Patton Boggs and state lobbyist Amy Atwood of Atwood Public Affairs. The briefing summarized federal appropriations developments, potential cuts to state revolving funds that support water projects, and the state session’s outcomes and priorities.

Why it matters: The memo highlighted areas where grant funding that supports local infrastructure could shrink and where state policy changes could affect Westminster’s authority over local matters. Staff and councilors discussed next steps for protecting project funding and monitoring implementation.

At the federal level, Deno said a major package signed July 4 preserved the tax-exempt…