Greeley budget proposal would spare most development services but cut neighborhood programs

Greeley’s 2027 budget workshop showed Community Development meeting its 17% reduction target largely through higher fees and other cost-recovery changes, while limiting cuts to core permitting, inspections and development review. Deputy City Manager Kelly Johnson told the City Council on June 9 that the department’s target is about $1.14 million, and that the plan would generate roughly $1.1 million in added revenue instead of relying mainly on service reductions.

Johnson said the proposal accelerates a cost-recovery roadmap set in a 2023 fee study, moving the department from about 45% toward 85% cost recovery while aiming to stay competitive with peer communities. The plan includes increases to existing planning, permitting and inspection fees, several new fee-for-service programs, and recapturing revenue that had previously been redirected. “The underlying principle remains unchanged: growth should help pay for itself,” Johnson said.

She said that approach was intended to avoid broad cuts that would affect development review, permitting inspections or future growth opportunities. Even so, Johnson warned that the tradeoffs are still significant. Proposed cuts include eliminating the Neighborhood Improvement Grant Program, ending city-sponsored HOA trainings and removing seasonal intern support.

Johnson said the biggest long-term concern is whether the city can maintain its “90 by 90” development-review standard — delivering 90% of decisions within 90 days — if staffing stays tight and development activity continues. Slower and less predictable review timelines could follow, she said.

The department met its reduction target pending approval of the revenue measures, Johnson said. If those revenue projections fall short, Community Development would look to natural attrition and staffing reductions later in the year while working with the finance department to monitor collections.