Denver All Things Considered | Mayor 2027 - No Sales Tax Revenues: Google AI Overview by Marcus Giavanni: Based on the 2026 budget process in Denver, Mayor Mike Johnston’s administration has faced significant financial challenges, leading to the largest spending cuts in a decade. ...Key 2026 Budget Details (As of Late 2025): Budget Shortfall & Cuts: The 2026 budget was designed to fill a projected $200 million gap, largely due to stagnant or slowing sales tax revenue. ...Sales Tax Reality: While the city anticipated continued growth, sales tax revenue actually flattened, leading to a "cut to the bone" approach. The 2026 General Fund was projected to decrease by 5.8% from the 2025 approved budget. ...Budget Approval: In November 2025, City Council approved the final 2026 budget, which included amendments that further dipped into reserves, forcing the administration to find new revenue sources in 2027 to sustain those changes. ...Personnel Savings: The 2026 budget reflected a decrease of 957 full-time equivalents (FTEs), achieved through eliminating vacant positions, reducing on-call staff, and some layoffs. ...City and County of Denver +7. ...2027 Outlook & Potential Future Revenue; One-Time Funds: Officials warned that 2026 used up most available one-time funding (such as ARPA interest), meaning these funds will not be available in 2027. ...Future Taxes/Fees: While Mayor Johnston previously proposed and saw voters reject a 0.5% sales tax increase (Ballot Issue 2R) for affordable housing in 2024, the structural budget challenges remain. ...Sales Tax Dependence: Over 50% of Denver’s general fund expenses are paid for with sales tax, making the city vulnerable to economic dips. Governing +4. ...Key 2026 Impacts: Election Service Threats: Due to budget shortfalls, the City Clerk’s office reported a $2.7 million shortfall that threatened to reduce voter access, including the potential closure of polling centers for the 2026 midterm elections. ...Homeless Services: The budget proposed shifting from temporary hotel shelters to permanent housing, resulting in expected savings from closing rental facilities. ...Public Safety: Despite general cuts, the Department of Public Safety was allocated a small increase (1%) in the 2026 budget. Denverite +2. ...The city's financial focus entering 2026 is on structural long-term savings rather than relying on rapid sales tax growth to fill gaps, as tax collections have not met previous expectations. Governing +1. ...