HomeMy WebLinkAbout069 - 04/15/2025 - APPROPRIATING PRIOR YEAR RESERVES IN THE GENERAL FUND TO COVER THE ANTICIPATED COSTS OF THE 2025 REGORDINANCE NO.069,2025
OF THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF FORT COLLINS
APPROPRIATING PRIOR YEAR RESERVES IN THE GENERAL
FUND TO COVER THE ANTICIPATED COSTS OF THE 2025
REGULAR MUNICIPAL ELECTION AND TO FUND ADDITIONAL
CAMPAIGN OVERSIGHT
A.At the November 2022 General Election,voters approved a change to the
timing of the City’s regular election to November in odd-numbered years and adopted the
ranked voting method for regular city elections after January 1,2025.
B.The County has provided the estimated cost for the upcoming coordinated
November 2025 election with Larimer County,which will vary depending on whether the
state and county also participate in the election.The City is the only jurisdiction using the
ranked voting method in Larimer County,and this will also increase the City’s costs as
the City will solely be responsible for those costs.
C.Staff anticipates the election costs to be $431,000,assuming the County
and State of Colorado do not have ballot questions on the ballot for the 2025 election.
D.City Council previously appropriated $164,000 for this election,$50,000 of
which has been allocated to election outreach related to the ranked voting method.
E.Staff has recommended that Council appropriate an additional $317,000 to
cover the remainer of the anticipated election costs.
F.During its January 2025 meeting,the Election Code Committee (ECC)
received information related to election oversight options.The ECC recommended
contracting with an outside,impartial service provider for the purpose of providing review
and oversight of campaign filings and reports and other related services.
G.Staff has estimated the cost of the additional campaign oversight services
to be $40,500.
H.This appropriation benefits the public health,safety,and welfare of the
residents of Fort Collins and serves the public purpose of facilitating a coordinate election
with the County and providing additional campaign oversight to promote fair campaign
practices.
Article V,Section 9 of the City Charter permits the City Council,upon the
recommendation of the City Manager,to make supplemental appropriations by ordinance
at any time during the fiscal year such funds for expenditure as may be available from
reserves accumulated in prior years,notwithstanding that such reserves were not
previously appropriated.
J.The City Manager has recommended the appropriation described herein
and determined that the funds to be appropriated are available and previously
unappropriated from the General Fund and that this appropriation will not cause the total
amount appropriated in the General Fund to exceed the current estimate of actual and
anticipated revenues and all other funds to be received in this Fund during this fiscal year.
In light of the foregoing recitals,which the Council hereby makes and adopts as
determinations and findings,BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF
FORT COLLINS that there is hereby appropriated from prior year reserves in the General
Fund the sum of THREE HUNDRED FIFTY-SEVEN THOUSAND FIVE HUNDRED
DOLLARS ($357,500)to be expended in the General Fund for the anticipated costs and
additional campaign oversight for the 2025 coordinated election as described in this
Ordinance.
Introduced,considered favorably on first reading on April 1,2025,and approved
on second reading for final passage on April 15,2025.
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ATtEST:
ity CIe/
Effective Date:April 25,2025
Approving Attorney:Sara Arfmann