Cheyenne committee approves nearly $83 million 2027 budget, adds generator, park paving and third city attorney

The Cheyenne City Council Committee of the Whole approved the city's fiscal 2027 general fund budget on third and final reading Tuesday, adopting a nearly $83 million balanced plan that includes several one-time amendments aimed at emergency preparedness, parks infrastructure and enforcement capacity.

Mayor Patrick Collins introduced the ordinance and said the budget before the committee is an "almost $83 million general fund balanced budget for the fiscal year 2027," noting the body had previously added a community service officer for the police department. After no public comments, councilmembers debated and approved three substantive amendments before voting the full budget through unanimously.

The first amendment adds $250,000 from general fund reserves to the facilities maintenance equipment line to buy a larger emergency generator for the fleet shop's fuel station. "If the power goes out they can't fuel vehicles'police and fire," Councilman Wolf said when proposing the change; Public Works Director Craig Lavoy explained the larger generator and more expensive hookup are required to run the shop's mechanical equipment, not just the pumps. The council approved the amendment by voice vote.

A second amendment increased funding for parks parking and paving. Councilman Wolf initially proposed $500,000 to pave parking at Lions Park; after discussion the amendment was expanded to $750,000 to include paving at Cahill Park. Director Jason Sanchez estimated the Cahill parking-lot work would cost about $200,000 and said he would scope the Lions Park project and seek bids with a goal of completing the work by the end of October if the funding was approved. Director Vicky Neich told the committee the planned "fifth penny" sales-tax ballot item would provide roughly $1.4'$1.6 million (she cited approximately $1.5 million) over four years specifically designated to park parking improvements, creating an ongoing source for similar projects.

The third adopted amendment creates a third attorney position in the city attorney's office to provide dedicated legal support for abandoned-property and nuisance enforcement work. Councilman Wolf proposed funding the position by reducing the council's discretionary line by $158,626; the motion specified detailed line-item increases (regular employees $100,000; health insurance $29,815; pension $15,120; FICA $7,352; workers'comp and small equipment and dues/subscriptions to cover startup and research-tool costs). Director Fountain and City Attorney John Brody described a backlog and multi-year legal processes related to abandoned and blighted properties: "we have 10 right now that are in desperate need of legal support," Fountain said, and Brody cautioned the council that such proceedings "move at the pace of a snail," but said a dedicated attorney would help advance cases and that he would provide quarterly reports on progress.

Public comment at the meeting included Cindy Delansancy, who spoke in her individual capacity as a member of the legal community and urged the council to build in-house legal capacity for these matters. Supporters said an in-house attorney would allow the city to develop institutional knowledge and provide steady attention to long-running cases, while some members urged clear job expectations and periodic reporting to ensure the position focuses on abandoned-property work rather than being absorbed into general legal duties.

All three budget amendments passed; the committee then approved the full FY2027 budget as amended by unanimous voice vote and adjourned.

Next steps: the ordinance passed on third reading at the committee level and the adopted appropriations will take effect for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2026; councilmembers and staff said they expect contracting and bidding steps for the parks project and that the city attorney's office will begin recruitment and provide periodic reports on the new attorney's activity and outcomes.