Thanks in no small part to the disruptions of COVID-19, the city of Golden is making some significant revisions to its planned two-year budget.

The current city budget cycle is set to take the municipality through 2022, but the city manager and staff have proposed significant revisions to adjust to changing conditions. Most notably, City Hall is calling for seven new full-time equivalent positions and a performance bonus to reward employees that kept the city running through the pandemic.

The proposed revisions were first discussed by the City Council at an Oct. 19 study session. Council then held a public hearing on the budget at its Oct. 26 meetinjg.

Future meetings are scheduled for Nov. 9, and Dec. 7.

The proposed new city positions are: right of way inspector, fiber optic administrator, associate planner, housing policy coordinator, part-time economic development assitant, a co-responding police officer, social media and marketing administrative position and an updrading of the existing part-time homeless navigator position to a full-time role.

Fiscally, the city finances are doing well. According to the city staff's budget proposal document, the ending balance for 2021 is projected to be at 37.8% of expenses, well above the 24.4% originally forecasted. The report attributes the increase primarily to sales and use tax.

The city-proposed budget revisions also contain a performance bonus for many city staffers, totallying $250,000.

Overally, the ending general fund balance for the end of the two-year cycle in 2022 is actually projected to end higher, even with the increases in spending.

Approval of the 2022 Budget is scheduled for the Dec. 7 meeting.

More information is available at the city's website, cityofgolden.net.