💰 Boulder passes $552.6M budget with cuts and calls for change

Good Friday morning, Boulder.

First up: Watch the Boulder mayoral debate. BRL and KGNU hosted five candidates Wednesday for a debate featuring tough questions, direct exchanges and a few jabs. The full recording is now available, with timestamps so you can jump to the topics that interest you. Thanks to KGNU for partnering with us and the Boulder County Film Commission for filming!

Leading today: Boulder City Council approved a $552.6 million budget for 2027 in a 7-1 vote last night, closing a projected $6.3 million General Fund gap. The budget eliminates 24 positions, raises fees and trims some services. The vote came amid disagreements over city spending, the budget process and wildfire mitigation funding, as finances take center stage in this fall’s election. John Herrick reports.

And in BRL Opinion: We’re publishing commentary on ballot measures ahead of the Nov. 3 election. Today, Boulder County DA Michael Dougherty and Sheriff Curtis Johnson argue against Amendment 81, while state Sen. Judy Amabile makes the case for expanding the Boulder County Board of Commissioners from three to five members.

Plus more, Below the Fold:

BoulderCAST: A frosty Friday gives way to a sunny, 70-degree weekend.
Fire restrictions: Seven-month ban ends in western Boulder County.
Eagle territory: Nesting season closes a Cradleboard Trail entrance.

Thanks, as always, for reading,

– The BRL team

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I am lucky to call Boulder home and want our city to be safe, welcoming and vibrant for years to come. If re-elected to City Council, I will do that through strengthening community relations and infrastructure while prioritizing transparent governance and a sustainable budget — clearly aligning resources with community needs.

Boulder City Council passes $552.6M budget for 2027, cutting 24 positions

The budget closes a projected $6.3 million General Fund gap as candidates debate the city’s financial management ahead of the November election. Continue reading…

Watch the 2026 Boulder mayoral debate hosted by Boulder Reporting Lab and KGNU

Five candidates faced tough questions and challenged one another during the Oct. 14 debate. Watch the full recording or jump directly to the issues that matter most to you. Continue reading…

Dealt Social, Boulder’s first mahjong parlor, opens as the game’s popularity surges

The new Spruce Street social club offers a place to play mahjong and meet new people, with plans to add bridge, canasta and other games. Continue reading…

A frosty start gives way to a gorgeous fall weekend

After a near-freezing start this morning, Boulder is heading into a beautiful stretch of autumn weather. Sunshine will dominate the forecast through the weekend and into early next week as another ridge of high pressure builds over the western United States.

Today is relatively cool with highs only in the mid to upper 50s but the sun will make it feel pretty nice. Tonight we drop down into the mid-30s with patchy frost.

Afternoon temperatures will jump over the weekend, climbing back above normal into the 70s by Saturday and Sunday, perfect for hiking, leaf peeping, and enjoying the outdoors.

Looking ahead, a new trough is expected to develop along the West Coast around Monday, though it’s too soon to know whether it’ll bring any meaningful impacts to our area later in the week. It will be a slow-mover.

For now, expect mild to warm temperatures generally in the 70s throughout most of next week with limited potential for precipitation.

— BoulderCAST

After seven months, fire restrictions lifted in western Boulder County

The Boulder County Sheriff’s Office has lifted Stage 1 fire restrictions in western unincorporated Boulder County, ending restrictions that had been in place since March.

The decision follows a review of fuel moisture, long-term weather forecasts and recent fire activity, according to the Sheriff’s Office. Officials said they will continue monitoring conditions and could reinstate restrictions if necessary.

Residents are still urged to use caution with activities that could spark a wildfire. Permits remain required for slash and agricultural burns, and visitors should check for separate fire restrictions in the Arapaho and Roosevelt National Forests and Eldorado Canyon State Park.

Boulder County closes Cradleboard Trail access to protect nesting bald eagles

The southern access to Cradleboard Trail on South 104th Street closed Oct. 15 to protect nesting bald eagles. The closure is expected to last through July 31, though access could reopen earlier if the eagles nest elsewhere.

A posted detour directs visitors to South 104th Street, and an eagle viewing area has been established about three-quarters of a mile from the trailhead parking lot. Visitors are asked not to park or travel on the road south of the lot.

The trail remains accessible from the north via the Carolyn Holmberg Preserve at Rock Creek. Additional protections may be put in place if needed.

Curtis Johnson and Michael Dougherty: Amendment 81 is not the right answer for immigration or for Colorado

Requiring local law enforcement to notify ICE about certain arrests would erode trust in immigrant communities, discourage victims from reporting crimes and undermine public safety. Continue reading…

Judy Amabile: It’s time to modernize Boulder County government

Question 200 would expand the Board of County Commissioners from three members to five. More commissioners would mean broader representation and better decision-making for a growing county. Continue reading…

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