Denver City Council narrowly approves Denver Police contract amid sharp budget and accountability debate

Denver City Council on Sept. 8 voted to adopt a collective bargaining agreement (CBA) between the City and County of Denver and the Denver Police Protective Association covering 2026–2028, despite sharp objections from several members about the timing while the city is facing budget shortfalls and recent layoffs.

Councilmember Darrell Watson, the legislative sponsor for the measure, said the vote was a matter of process and of honoring negotiations that took place with the city attorneys. “This topic and the issues that you elevated are important,” Watson told colleagues before voting. He said council members had been briefed in executive session and that he intended to “be consistent in a way in which I treat all collective bargaining agreements.”

Opponents framed their votes as objections to timing and fiscal fairness. Councilmember Amanda Lewis said she would vote no, citing city litigation payouts and the effect on the general fund: “We have paid $5,119,000 in settlements against the Denver Police Department in 2025 so far. Those funds … must be refilled from the general fund,” Lewis said, adding that raises now would further strain resources as the city contends with layoffs and other cuts.

Councilmember Erika Parity, who also opposed the agreement, said the size and timing of the salary increases gave her “pause” while the city’s overall budget and raises for other employees remain uncertain. “It just gives me pause because we're about to vote on a city budget and we don't know whether that will include raises for other city employees,” she said.

Supporters including Councilmembers Chris Torres, Paul Cashman and Romaine Romero Campbell argued the agreement emerged from a negotiated process and that failure to approve it would simply revert the parties back into arbitration or an unsettled state. “We were at the table,” Torres said, describing repeated briefings and negotiation opportunities for council.

Roll call after debate showed nine members voting to adopt the CBA and four members opposed. The motion to adopt was made by Councilmember Sawyer.

Why it matters: The agreement commits city funds for multi-year salary increases at a time when city departments are already making cuts and hundreds of employees have faced furloughs or layoffs. Supporters said the vote is part of a predictable collective bargaining process; opponents said votes on raises should wait until the mayor’s proposed 2026 budget is presented and the city’s fiscal picture is clearer.

What happens next: The adopted agreement will be implemented according to its terms for the 2026–2028 period. Council members called for continued oversight on discipline, civilian oversight improvements, and for administration and departments to report back as part of budget deliberations.

Ending note: The vote reflected a split in priorities across the council — trust in the bargaining process and continuity for public safety personnel on one side, and concern about equity for other city employees and the strain on the general fund on the other.