The adopted budget for 2025 delivers on the City’s Strategic Plan, adopted by City Council in 2024, and is the result of a collaborative effort between City Council, the City Manager’s Office, Staff from all City departments, and the community. The adopted budget strikes a thoughtful balance between revenues, resources, and expectations to deliver the high-quality core services our community has come to expect.
The adopted 2025 budget, in its entirety, advances the City’s commitment to justice, equity, diversity, inclusion, and belonging for all members of our community, and will contribute directly to the City achieving its mission to provide high quality core services and foster resilience in order to promote a safe and thriving community.
The 2025 Budget proposes an achievable, fiscally responsible capital plan. Across all City funds, this capital plan includes funding for:
- Streets and transportation - $17.1 million;
- Public safety - $5.9 million;
- Utilities - $17.1 million;
- Economic vitality - $2.8 million; and
- Parks, recreation, and libraries - $8.0 million.
The comprehensive and collaborative 2025 budget process was based on feedback provided by City Council, Staff, and the community. City Staff began working on the budget development in January of 2024, with an official kickoff in March 2024. Increasing the engagement and collaboration with City Council and the community was a theme through the process. Engagement with City Council on the development of the 2025 budget included:
- March 4: discussion on the 2025 budget development guidelines based on the feedback received during November 2024 After-Actions Review
- March 25: Review of the detailed 2025 budget workflow
- April 1: Staff led two presentations on unfunded Capital Needs and Potential funding sources as well as Utility Financing for the Westminster Drinking Water Facility
- April 13: Strategic Planning Retreat to review and establish the vision for the future
- April 22: Review of the draft Mission Statement, Vision Statement, Guiding Principles, and Strategic Priorities
- April 25: Opened the Community Project Request form online to receive community requests for projects and programs
- May 6, Adoption of the 2024 Strategic Plan’s mission statement, vision statement, guiding principles, and strategic priorities as well as review and agreement on the strategic priorities policy objectives
- May 9: Inaugural Budget Town Hall
- May 23: The Community Project Request form online to receive community requests for projects and programs closed (requests heard via public comment or email were also included)
- June 3: Study Session Budget Retreat including the review of the budget development process, confirmation of the Strategic Plan, review of the Budget Town Hall themes, update on the community project request, conveying of the City Council priorities, revenue forecast, the roadway improvement fee and stormwater utility fee.
- June 17: Update on the Westminster Drinking Water Facility Project costing and financing plan, including a discussion on water rates for 2025
- August 6: Review of the proposed Human Services Board (HSB) recommendations and City Council sponsorships in the Proposed 2025 budget along with an update on the 2025 budget development process as well as a presentation on the roadway improvement fee, stormwater utility fee, and sewer rates
- August 26: the proposed 2025 budget was shared with City Council
- August 26 - September 5: City Council to review the proposed budget and submit any questions to the City Manager
- September 9: Public Hearing on the 2025 proposed budget
- September 10: Answers to the City Council’s questions will be shared by the City Manager
- September 16: Review of the budget with City Council
- September 23: Review of the Proposed 2025 Budget Amendments
- After the review of the proposed budget on September 16, budget amendments were suggested. City Council provided feedback on each budget amendment, and Staff incorporated the recommendations into the budget for 2025
- October 21: Public Hearing on the proposed 2025 budget and First reading of the 2025 budget
- October 28: Second reading and adoption of the 2025 budget
- November 4: Debriefing with City Council on the 2025 budget development process