Thornton City Council Planning Session - September 29, 2026 - 2027 Budget Review

Thornton City Council’s 2027 budget planning session on September 29, 2026, reviewed proposed operating and capital budgets, with staff seeking general council direction on utility rates and employee benefit changes ahead of upcoming deadlines. The capital recommendation included a $7.6 million annual street rehabilitation program, a $14 million South Thornton corridor project, $6 million for two roundabouts, and $8.1 million for public-safety radio replacement; staff said advancing the radio project through a budget amendment could save about $1.2 million. The water budget included $43.9 million in proposed 2027 capital projects, including a $24 million East Gravel Lakes pump-station improvement, and roughly $12 million in additional debt service tied to the Thornton water project and treatment-facility improvements. Other items included $2 million set aside for transit-study implementation, a $200,000 non-utility fees-and-charges study, and a $25,000 Launch Local grant for five startup businesses. A newly awarded SAFER grant of about $1.3 million was described as providing roughly $900,000 in new budget capacity and supporting three additional firefighters, bringing the proposed 2027 increase to six firefighter positions. Staff reported about $138 million in unfunded requests across the five-year period; no capital contract award was made during the public budget discussion.

Council discussed proposed utility-rate increases and employee compensation and benefits. Staff presented options for using one-time revenue and ongoing savings; the discussion pointed toward a one-time offset to employee health-premium increases, with remaining funds tied to merit payments, and council requested development of a healthcare committee for future review. The meeting also reflected a new committee-based capital improvement planning process and an effort to inventory existing software before acquiring additional systems. At the end of the meeting, council moved into executive session to discuss responses to a request for qualifications for redevelopment of Market 88, formerly Thornton Shopping Center; this was not a public vendor selection or contract award.