Denver committee advances charter amendment, ordinance on budget process
A 4-1 committee vote moved a proposed charter amendment and companion ordinance toward Denver voters in November, with Councilmember Chris Flynn opposed.
Denver City Council’s Governance and Intergovernmental Relations Committee voted 4-1 Tuesday to advance a charter amendment and companion ordinance tied to the city’s budget process toward the Nov. 3, 2026 municipal election.
The committee approved Council Bill 26-0864, a proposed charter amendment to change Denver’s budget and appropriation process, and Council Bill 26-0867, an ordinance that would add procedures for budget changes and require community engagement during planning for a two-year budget term. Councilmember Chris Flynn cast the lone no vote.
Committee minutes say the bills were approved “for filing in a block,” indicating referral rather than final adoption. The meeting agenda described the measures as a package headed to voters at the general election.
According to the committee video record, city staff said the package responded to last year’s council request for more community and council involvement in the budget process.
The committee record does not spell out the full mechanics of the charter amendment, including exactly how midyear budget adjustments or appropriation authority would change. But the available materials show the package’s broad aim: formalizing how the mayor and council handle budget changes while adding public engagement to Denver’s two-year budget planning cycle.