News

The City of Fort Collins published the 2023-2024 City Manager’s Recommended Budget Sept. 2 and has scheduled opportunities for community members to learn more and provide feedback to City Council.

The Recommended Budget was developed by City staff and provided to City Council, who will now spend the fall reviewing and modifying the budget prior to adoption in November. Community members can review the proposed budget and share feedback at ourcity.fcgov.com/23-24budget.

The City is partnering with CSU’s Center for Public Deliberation to host a budget forum on Sept. 28 where participants can work through a mock budget exercise, learn more about the City’s budget development process, and share their feedback. Registration and additional information will be available in mid-September.

Residents can also share their thoughts about the Recommended Budget directly with City Council by emailing cityleaders@fcgov.com, or attending Council’s budget hearings on Sept. 20 and Oct. 4.

Budget Themes

After two consecutive years of producing one-year budgets in response to the pandemic and recovery efforts, the 2023-2024 Recommended Budget marks a return to the City’s regular two-year budgeting cycle.

While the budget is based on increased revenue projections over the next two years, it also reflects a return to basics. The City organization is facing the same economic conditions that are impacting many other entities, including inflationary pressures and talent retention and recruitment challenges. The focus of the 2023-2024 Recommended Budget is to invest in existing assets while continuing to advance City Council priorities and Strategic Plan objectives.

Key themes include:

• Addressing critical asset management needs, including many that have been deferred for several budget cycles. This budget funds critical maintenance, repair and replacement to ensure service delivery, reduce safety risks and carbon footprint, and manage costs.
• Investing in technology to better serve residents while increasing the organization’s efficiency, effectiveness and security.
• Leading as a committed and competitive employer by prioritizing engagement and compensation strategies to invest in the City’s workforce, support recruitment efforts and affirm the organization’s commitment to supporting, developing and retaining top talent.
• Advancing City Council priorities, particularly around climate, environmental health, and housing.
• Continuing to advance equity in the City’s operations and services.
• Maintaining service and staffing levels to keep up with community growth and demand.
• Leveraging the remaining $15.8M from the American Recovery Plan Act (ARPA) to further invest in community recovery initiatives.

Budgeting for Outcomes

The City’s budget is created using the Budgeting for Outcomes (BFO) process. Since 2005, BFO has helped the City identify and fund various programs and services to achieve different community outcomes. Each community outcome has specific objectives and performance measures that make up the City’s Strategic Plan, and every funded budget item has to impact at least one of those objectives. The Strategic Plan is also updated every two years through extensive community engagement to ensure funded programs and services reflect the desires of the community. City Council unanimously adopted the 2022 Strategic Plan earlier this year.