City Budget

Municipal budgets serve a number of important functions. In addition to laying out a spending plan for the city, allocating resources to meet the diverse needs of the community, Boulder’s budget:

• is a principal policy and management tool for the city’s administration, reflecting and defining the annual work program;
• provides a framework for the city to accomplish its vision: “service excellence for an inspired future;” and
• reflects core city values of customer service, respect, integrity, collaboration and innovation.

The city’s fiscal year runs on a calendar year (Jan. 1 to Dec. 31). The budget development timeline is established by the City of Boulder charter and the process is designed to allow for early and active City Council participation with an emphasis on public input. Although the budget is developed throughout the year, the majority of the effort occurs between February and October, with the budget for the coming fiscal year adopted Dec. 1, per the city charter.