Boulder adopts $18.6M midyear budget adjustment including housing carryovers and radio replacement

Boulder City Council on May 20 adopted Ordinance 87 50, the first adjustment to base budget for fiscal 2026, approving $18.6 million in supplemental appropriations and project carryovers.

Krista Morrison, the city’s chief financial officer, told council the adjustment is the routine midyear reconciliation staff brings forward twice yearly. Stacy Polykova, senior budget analyst, said ATB 1 totals $18,600,000 including roughly $13,100,000 from fund balance, $5.3 million from midyear grants, and $129,000 from additional/budgeted revenue.

Staff highlighted major items funded from fund balance: $4,000,000 carried over in the affordable housing fund for delayed projects, and $7,300,000 earmarked for radio replacements for public safety departments. Midyear grant awards include a DOLA mobile‑home repair and replacement pilot (intended for households at or below 100% AMI), a History Colorado cultural resources planning grant for OSMP, state forest restoration funds for forest thinning projects, and Clean Transit Enterprise funds to purchase a 35‑foot electric bus.

Council members asked questions about radio compatibility, whether purchases are financed or paid from reserves, and the size and nature of fund‑balance draws. Charlotte Husky, budget officer, said the radio replacement was planned and funded through an internal service fund set aside annually; the city advanced the purchase to capture a discount. Council discussed tradeoffs between advancing planned capital replacements and conserving fund balance for other priorities.

Council moved to adopt Ordinance 87 50; the motion carried on a roll call and the ordinance was adopted unanimously. Mayor Brockett and council members thanked staff for the work on the budget adjustments.

Next steps: staff will implement the appropriation and proceed with planned purchases and grant expenditures; they will report back as project timelines and grant conditions require.