City staff outlines 2026 budget submission; $25 million garage renovation and BJAD signage request highlighted

Chris Scott, the city’s budget analyst for Community Vitality, told the Boulder Junction Access District commission on July 23 that Community Vitality has submitted its 2026 budget proposals to the central budget team and that the executive budget team (EBT) review meetings are next. He said the city manager’s office will provide budget recommendations and Community Vitality will return to the commission in September for advisory input before City Council votes on the final budget in late October.

The presentation said the department’s operating budget will fall roughly 9% for 2026, primarily because the city is moving the parking enforcement team into Planning and Development Services. The largest increase in Community Vitality’s request is in capital spending, Scott said, driven by a CMGC-funded renovation program for the city’s parking garages.

Scott said the CMGC program is anticipated to be $25,000,000 over six years, with the bulk of that work directed at the 1500 Pearl and Spruce garages; St. Julien, RTD and Randolph garages were also mentioned as recipients of capital work. He said the Spruce Garage will be first in the schedule and construction is targeted for spring 2026. An engineering firm has completed security, structural…