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Erie council approves $147 million spring supplemental appropriation, largely rollovers for water projects
Summary
The Erie Town Council approved Resolution 25-068 on April 23, 2025, to appropriate roughly $147 million across funds — primarily rollovers for water and wastewater projects — and to authorize operating requests and new grant appropriations; council voted after a staff presentation and brief questions.
Erie — The Erie Town Council voted April 23 to approve a spring supplemental appropriation (Resolution 25-068) that staff said totals about $147,000,000 across the town’s funds, with roughly $95,000,000 attributed to water and wastewater rollovers.
Sarah Hancock, the town’s director of finance, told the council the supplemental combines multiyear capital rollovers, a small number of new operating requests and several newly received grants. "This will obviously be a little bit different because we will be focusing operating side," Hancock said, describing criteria staff uses to evaluate requests and the review process with the executive budget team.
Why it matters: Council and staff said most of the dollar value reflects multiyear projects that must be rolled forward into the current year for the town to spend appropriations; the water and wastewater funds typically show large rollover amounts because those projects span multiple years.
What the council approved: Hancock identified several components of the supplemental, including operating requests such as transportation consultation and safety studies (listed at $122,000) and bus stop design funding; vehicle maintenance increases and replacement ballistic helmets for police were also included. Capital highlights cited during the presentation included an Xcel Energy reinforcement contract item (presented as $411,418 with anticipated partial reimbursement) and increased construction estimates in storm drainage projects and Coal Creek geotechnical work. Hancock said the town had received roughly $3,345,000 in new grant awards that offset some operating costs.
Fund balance and risk: Budget and fiscal manager Cassie Bethune reviewed fund balance slides and forecast assumptions through 2029, calling out a negative showing in the police facilities impact fund tied to an unresolved debt mechanism and noting the storm drainage operating fund faces pressure partly from more than $1,000,000 in outstanding FEMA reimbursements. Bethune told the council the general fund ending balance remains above the town’s minimum required level.
Council questions and staff follow-ups: Council members pressed staff on the decline in unassigned fund balance (presented in discussion as falling from about $1.7 million to roughly $6,600 in one line) and on the likelihood of FEMA reimbursements. Hancock said reserve funds and TABOR set-asides were included in the calculations and that staff remained comfortable with contingency before reaching a critically low level; David Pasek, public works director, said the town was in regular contact with grant administrators and had not been told FEMA funding was in jeopardy.
Process note: Council discussed a proposed $72,000 townwide household questionnaire in addition to an already-funded statistically significant survey; staff and council agreed to revisit survey policy and contract details in a study session and to keep both options on the table for now.
Vote: After the presentation and questions, a council member moved and another seconded the motion to adopt Resolution 25-068; the mayor called the vote and the motion carried by voice vote.
Next steps: Staff said they will finalize appropriation entries and report the changes to the state in the town’s financial reporting. Council directed staff to provide follow-up details on outstanding reimbursements and specific project rollovers upon request.
