Boulder’s 2027 budget proposal includes recreation cuts, $6.3 million shortfall

Boulder’s proposed $552.6 million 2027 budget would reduce some recreation services and staffing as the city addresses a projected $6.3 million General Fund shortfall, according to the city manager’s budget recommendation. The proposal also adds funding for infrastructure, wildfire resilience and affordable housing.

Parks and Recreation staff proposed a $42.1 million operating budget, up from $40.8 million in 2026, with changes that include ending child-watch at East Boulder Community Center, reducing some drop-in fitness classes, adjusting pool hours and cutting recreation-center front-desk staffing during slower periods. These are proposals, not adopted policy. Staff outlined the changes at the Parks and Recreation Advisory Board’s Sept. 28 meeting.

Ending child-watch at East Boulder would save about $41,000, staff said; the service would remain at North Boulder Recreation Center. The department estimates that selectively reducing drop-in classes across its three recreation centers would save $12,000 annually. Staff said summer attendance would help determine which classes to cut, but had not identified specific classes.

At Scott Carpenter Pool, the proposal would shorten operating hours. Lap swimming would run from mid-May to mid-September; leisure swimming would run from Memorial Day to mid-August, then on weekends through Labor Day. Weekday leisure-pool hours would be reduced during lower-use periods, typically between 9 a.m. and 1 p.m. Staff also proposed reducing indoor-pool hours during slower periods while maintaining core programming, swim lessons and peak hours. Final 2027 pool operations would be reviewed after the city assesses 2026 attendance and costs, staff said.

At recreation centers, front-desk staffing would drop from three employees to two during slower periods. Staff said at least two employees would remain on duty, with other full-time employees and program or facility staff available to help. The proposal includes one-time funding to keep Spruce Pool open through 2027; staff said its longer-term future depends on finding ongoing resources.

The advisory board voted 2-5 against recommending the department’s proposed operating budget and also voted to send City Council a statement opposing it. The board’s role is advisory. Council took up the broader city budget Oct. 1 and voted 7-1 to advance it on first reading, Boulder Reporting Lab reported. That was not final adoption. The Council agenda scheduled a second public hearing and budget adoption for Oct. 15.

The citywide proposal allocates $417.2 million to operations and $135.4 million to capital. The operating budget would rise 2.35% from the 2026 approved budget. The plan would eliminate 24.1 full-time-equivalent positions and keep 8.5 positions vacant through 2027, a net reduction of 15.6 positions from the 2026 approved staffing level.

The proposal includes more than $11 million for wildfire resilience and response, $28 million in additional municipal infrastructure funding and a $5.3 million increase for affordable housing programs. Its six-year capital plan includes $56.5 million for South Boulder Creek flood mitigation and $63.5 million for East Boulder Community Center renovations; those are multiyear plan amounts, not spending limited to 2027.

The Day Services Center would receive $778,000 in one-time funding for shelter operations, drawn from 2026 departmental savings. Staff have not identified ongoing funding for the service. Staff have also asked Council members to identify an offset, such as reduced spending or additional revenue, for any proposed budget amendment.