Good Monday morning, Boulder.
Leading today’s edition: Boulder’s first guaranteed income pilot, part of a national wave of similar programs, is set to end. City council gave initial approval Thursday to its $521 million 2026 budget, which includes limited funding to continue the Elevate program only if private fundraising succeeds.
The two-year pilot, launched with one-time Covid relief funds, provided 200 residents with $500 a month in direct cash assistance, no strings attached. A city analysis found the money helped families cover essentials like food, housing and utilities, and eased financial stress. But it didn’t significantly change long-term measures such as savings, employment or childcare access, with results consistent with similar programs nationwide. Brooke Stephenson has the story.
Also today, we’re publishing the final question in our Boulder City Council candidate questionnaire ahead of the Nov. 4 election. This one’s on the city budget — a tricky topic for candidates to pin down, but if you care about fiscal responsibility, this is your read. Find all the questions here. You’ll also find everything you need to know about BVSD candidates and their responses to our six-question questionnaire. Check out the full BRL Voter Guide.
Lastly, in BRL Opinion, state Sen. Judy Amabile and City Councilmember Mark Wallach explain why they’re voting yes on the county’s mental health tax measure, even with some reservations.
Plus, more, Below the Fold:
- Nederland fire: Investigators search for cause after downtown destruction.
- County hearing: $13M cuts and wage changes up for debate Tuesday.
- Shutdown fallout: Local federal workers hit by loss of pay.
- Poet Laureate: Nominations open to succeed Andrea Gibson.
- Things to do: Lily Gladstone in conversation, feminist adventure films, masquerade ball, books and brews, music fest, Vivaldi by candlelight + more.
Thanks, as always, for reading,
– The BRL team
Jenny Robins is running for Boulder City Council to bring focus back to good governance, safety and sustainability. As Chair of the Parks & Recreation Advisory Board and a longtime community volunteer, Jenny has a proven record of service and collaboration. She believes in fiscal responsibility, supporting small businesses, protecting open space and making Boulder more affordable for working families. Learn more about her vision and get involved at JennyForBoulder.com
Boulder set to end its guaranteed income pilot program
Over two years, 200 residents received $500 a month. Surveys show the money helped meet basic needs and improved well-being but didn’t significantly improve long-term financial stability. Continue reading…
Meet the candidates running for BVSD Board of Education in the 2025 election
Three Boulder Valley School District board seats are up for election this November, but only one is contested. Read their questionnaire responses to see where each candidate stands. Continue reading…
Judy Amabile and Mark Wallach: We will vote yes on Ballot Issue 1B, Boulder County’s mental health tax
The measure isn’t perfect, but it’s a needed step to sustain critical mental health and addiction programs, Amabile and Wallach write. Continue reading…
2025 Boulder City Council election: Where candidates stand on city budget priorities
BRL asked each of the 11 city council candidates: With limited dollars, what are your top priorities — and what would you cut or delay? Here’s what they said. Continue reading…
Slight chance of afternoon showers, high near 60
Expect a mostly sunny fall day with a high near 60 and winds out of the east that could gust up to 15 mph. There’s a slight chance of afternoon showers, mainly after 3 p.m. Tonight will be mostly cloudy with a low around 40 and a small chance of rain before midnight. Tuesday should bring plenty of sunshine and warmer temperatures, with a high near 70.
Investigators begin probing cause of Nederland fire
Investigators from the Boulder County Sheriff’s Office, Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), the Colorado Bureau of Investigation and the Colorado Division of Fire Prevention and Control have begun examining the cause of Thursday’s fire that tore through the Caribou Village Shopping Center in downtown Nederland.
About 20 businesses were destroyed. The complex, an older wood-frame building, was a longtime social and economic hub for the mountain town.
Investigators have not yet been able to enter the structure because parts remain unstable and smoldering, the sheriff’s office said Friday afternoon. Nederland Public Works is expected to assist today with heavy machinery to stabilize the site. Officials said it’s too early to determine a cause, and there’s no known indication of foul play or threats.
Boulder County Public Health, with assistance from the state’s environmental monitoring unit, conducted mobile air-quality testing in and around Nederland. While some volatile organic compounds (VOCs) were elevated near the site, all levels remained within safe standards, and air quality in nearby neighborhoods and along Boulder Canyon matched normal background levels.
Anyone with photos or videos from before, during or after the fire can submit them here or email BCSOtips@bouldercounty.gov.
How to help: The Mountain-Ear has compiled a list of places to donate to affected workers and business owners.
Hearing tomorrow: County to weigh $13M in cuts and minimum wage changes
Boulder County will hold a public hearing Tuesday, Oct. 14, at 1 p.m., on proposed changes to the local minimum wage and its recommended 2026 budget.
Boulder County commissioners will discuss the budget first, which includes $13.2 million in cuts to the general fund and the elimination of about 90 positions — about two-thirds unfilled. The reductions come as the county contends with a structural budget gap, where expenses have consistently outpaced property tax revenue. Nearly half the general fund cuts — about $6 million — would come from the county’s social services programs.
The second item on the agenda is the county’s minimum wage schedule. The county minimum wage is $16.57 an hour, and under the current schedule it would rise to $17.99 next year and to $25 by 2030. Commissioners will consider keeping the current schedule, pausing future increases, or adopting a lower rate to more closely align with the City of Boulder’s minimum wage.
The City of Boulder’s minimum wage is slightly below the county’s — $15.57 per hour in 2025 and $16.82 in 2026. Minimum wage has been a contentious issue at both the city and county levels. Supporters of increases say they’re needed to keep up with the cost of living. Opponents say higher wages could hurt small businesses already struggling to stay afloat. Others say adjusting the tip credit so tipped wages rise more slowly could ease the burden, noting that most tipped workers already earn more than the minimum wage.
Sign up to give public comment in person or over Zoom. You can also submit feedback through the county’s online forms on the minimum wage or budget proposals.
Local federal workers face financial strain during shutdown
Unemployment claims from Colorado’s federal workers are surging amid the government shutdown, CPR reports. The surge comes as hundreds of recently fired federal employees in Boulder — including from NOAA and other agencies — have been struggling to access unemployment benefits, as BRL previously reported.
Boulder County is home to roughly 1,700 federal employees, many of whom have been furloughed without pay during the shutdown. An additional approximately 12,000 people have jobs that are tied to federal funding, including grant allocations that have been halted during the shutdown.
On Oct. 7, the Trump administration announced a policy that could add to the financial strain on government workers. The Office of Management and Budget said furloughed workers would not automatically receive back pay, despite a 2019 law guaranteeing it.
In addition to furloughed workers, it’s possible some of the federal workers filing for unemployment are people who took a deferred resignation offer through the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), which allowed them to resign and continue receiving pay for eight months. At the beginning of the month, that pay ran out for about 154,000 federal workers across the U.S.
Nominations open for Colorado’s next Poet Laureate
Nominations are now open for the next Poet Laureate of Colorado, the state’s literary ambassador who travels the state sharing poetry through readings, workshops and community events. The new laureate will succeed Boulder poet Andrea Gibson, who held the role until their death in July.
State officials are encouraging nominations from poets who demonstrate exceptional talent, community engagement and a vision for promoting poetry statewide. The next laureate will play a role in upcoming commemorations of both the 250th anniversary of the United States and the 150th anniversary of Colorado’s statehood. The Colorado Poet Laureate program is a partnership between Colorado Creative Industries, Colorado Humanities, and The Word, A Storytelling Sanctuary. Nominations are open through Oct. 27. More information, including eligibility criteria, is available here.
☀️ Explore events in Boulder and use the self-submission form on our events page to reach thousands in our community — for free! To have your event featured on our Monday to-do list, make sure to submit it to our events calendar.
Indigenous Peoples Day Keynote with Lily Gladstone: Monday, Oct. 13, 11:00 a.m.-12:30 p.m., University Memorial Center, Glen Miller Ballroom, 1669 Euclid Ave. Read More
Mamá: A Mother and Son Tsotsil Journey—Film Moments & Conversation with the Director: Monday, Oct. 13, 2:30-3:30 p.m., Norlin Library Center for British and Irish Studies, 5th Floor, M549, 1720 Pleasant St. Read More
Guest Recital: Gwendolyn Mok, piano: Monday, Oct. 13, 7:30-8:30 p.m., Grusin Music Hall, 1020 18th St. Read More
Roots Music Fest All-Hands: Building October Together: Tuesday, Oct. 14, 6:30 a.m.-8:30 p.m., Roots Music Project, 4747 Pearl Suite V3A. Read More
Kristin Korb Trio (ft. Dawn Clement & Jim White): Wednesday, Oct. 15, 7:00 p.m., The Muse Performance Space, 200 E. South Boulder Rd, Lafayette. Read More
Boulder Books and Brews: Book and Beer Tasting: Wednesday, Oct. 15, 4:00-6:00 p.m., Boulder Social, 1600 38th St. Read More
Ghosts of Boulder Bike Tour: Wednesday, Oct. 15, 5:00-7:00 p.m., meet in front of Norlin Library, 1157 18th St. Read More
No Man’s Land Film Festival: Thursday, Oct. 16, 5:00-9:00 p.m., 939 Pearl St. Read More
World Premier Boulder Kirtan Fever: Thursday, Oct. 16, 7:00-9:00 p.m., Dairy Arts Center, 2590 Walnut St. Read More
Boulder Roots Music Fest: Friday, Oct. 17 to Sunday Oct. 19, 10:00 a.m.-10:00 p.m., at 14+ stages. Read More
Lafayette Fall Festival: Saturday, Oct. 18, 6:00-7:30 p.m., Bob L. Burger Recreation Center, 111 W. Baseline Rd, Lafayette. Read More
Masquerade Mermaid Ball: Saturday, Oct. 18, 6:00-10:00 p.m., Junkyard Social Club, 2525 Frontier Avenue Unit A. Read More
COmpass REsonance: The Four Seasons with Vadim Gluzman: Saturday, Oct. 18, 4:00-5:30 p.m., Dairy Arts Center, 2590 Walnut St. Read More
The Milk Carton Kids: Sunday, Oct. 19, 8:00 p.m., Boulder Theater 2032 14th St. Read More