Gunnison council unanimously adopts midyear budget amendment, adjusts reserves and spending plans

The Gunnison City Council unanimously approved a resolution amending the 2024–25 municipal budget after a public hearing on Feb. 19.

Council members cited the need to recognize new grant revenue, reallocate reserves and clarify how impact fees and waste-collection costs will appear in future budgets. The council voted to approve Resolution 2025-04 amending the 2024–25 municipal budget; the motion passed with all members voting yes.

City staff said the amendment recognizes a state grant related to the Howard Valley Art Vision project and records related professional and technical expenses. Officials also said some CARES Act funds had been used previously and that no CARES dollars remain available.

Council members discussed reducing a previously planned contribution to a reserve for future industrial park road improvements. Staff described removing the originally proposed $220,000 deposit from the budget; the amendment reduces that planned transfer but did not state a finalized replacement figure during the hearing.

Officials also said the city will begin breaking out waste-collection fees in the budget so that costs borne by the city and those borne by the county can be displayed separately. Council and staff discussed using impact fees for new utility lines and expansion projects only, not for maintenance, citing restrictions on impact fee use.

During the hearing staff explained that impact fees collected this year can be used during a multi-year window and that some planned projects — for instance sewer and water extension to a new apartment site — are being planned with impact-fee funding in mind. Council members pressed staff to ensure projects are listed in the city master plan when impact fees are relied upon.

The council closed the public hearing and took formal action on the resolution. Before and after the vote, members thanked residents who attended the hearing and asked staff to return with refined accounting details where figures were unclear.

Votes at a glance - Resolution 2025-04 (Amend 2024–25 municipal budget): motion by Councilman Warner; second by Councilman Childs; vote: Childs — yes; Warner — yes; Hill — yes; Anderson — yes; outcome: approved unanimously. - Motion to pay bills (regular and work): motion by Councilman Warren; second by Councilman Anderson; recorded as approved (yes votes recorded during the meeting). - Sale of city Chevrolet to Ace Fowler (see separate item below): motion and vote recorded (approved).

Why it matters: The amendment formally records grant revenue and reassigns reserves and expenses, which affects how the city plans for infrastructure and service delivery over the coming year. Several items discussed — impact-fee uses, reserve levels and waste-collection fee breakout — will affect future budget projections and rate-setting.

What’s next: Staff was directed to return with clearer line-item numbers, project lists tied to the master plan where impact fees are proposed, and more detail on the proposed reserve adjustments.