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Public Works preserves capital project delivery while trimming positions and temporary reductions
Summary
Public Works Director Richard Malady presented a 2026 proposal that preserves delivery of major capital projects by finding alternate matches and carryovers, trims five filled positions (including two grant-funded Mountain Metro positions) and leaves several positions unfunded in operations and maintenance.
Richard Malady, director of Public Works, presented the department’s 2026 budget and described how public‑works leaders prioritized minimal frontline impacts while meeting citywide reduction targets.
Malady said the department eliminated five filled positions for 2026 (three general‑fund positions and two grant‑funded positions in Mountain Metro Transit) and will hold a number of positions unfunded—about 10.75 in operations and maintenance alone. He said many of the larger dollar movements in the department’s budget are driven by variability in grant funding: a large grant (previously expected for a Stonewall Enterprise project) has been delayed and will reduce 2026 grant revenue timing, creating a gap in the all‑funds total even though the city preserved core capital delivery.
On capital, Malady said staff found alternative match sources and restructured some projects so no major projects were canceled; instead, the department shifted funding sources and used one‑time carryover where possible to avoid project cancellations. He highlighted that PPRTA, 2C roadway funding and grant projects make up large parts of the department’s all‑funds CIP portfolio.
Malady said department priorities are to minimize staff impacts, preserve street‑maintenance and stormwater functions, and continue to deliver capital projects. He noted a number of technical and programmatic reductions (operating cuts, furloughs, and unfunded positions) and said staff would provide more detail about specific unfunded positions and the bike‑fund uses if council requests it.
