Denver Mayor Mike Johnston is facing mounting criticism for his request to cut spending in all city agencies in order to fund Denver’s ‘sanctuary city’ policies for migrants. Despite the potential consequences of such cuts, Johnston is determined to prioritize the city’s migrant response over taxpayers.
According to Mayor Johnston, maintaining the current level of support for migrants without additional federal assistance would require the city to allocate 10% of its annual general fund budget. In an effort to secure the necessary funds, Johnston has asked agencies led by mayoral appointees to reduce their spending.
However, scaling back efforts to shelter and house migrants could have severe repercussions.
Nearly 5,000 people are currently living in city-run shelters, and the city has spent over $38 million on its migrant response efforts. If all city shelters were closed, thousands of migrants would be left homeless, potentially increasing the number of people experiencing homelessness, including many children, on Denver streets.
Despite the financial challenges, Johnston remains committed to advocating for federal support. He has joined forces with Mayor Eric Adams of New York and Brandon Johnson of Chicago to seek additional assistance. However, given the urgency of the situation, Johnston has asked city agencies to identify potential savings to ensure the necessary funds are available to address the migrant crisis while maintaining a balanced budget.
While specific city services or measures that would be affected by the cuts were not disclosed, salaries, raises, and benefits are not on the chopping block.
The city will employ various strategies, such as identifying savings within agencies, leaving non-essential positions vacant, and carefully reviewing contracts and programs.
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Additionally, Johnston is implementing additional oversight over upcoming city programs to assess their feasibility amidst potential budget constraints. The Mayor’s Office will review press releases to ensure alignment with the budget team’s approved projects during this critical time.
Critics argue that Denver’s progressive Democrats, including Mayor Johnston, are failing to demonstrate effective leadership in addressing the migrant crisis. They question the sustainability of relying on budget cuts to fund sanctuary city policies and emphasize the need for swift federal intervention and support.