Denver City Council members Stacie Gilmore, Shontel Lewis and Amanda Sawyer consistently expressed frustration during the tense 2026 budget process, saying that Mayor Mike Johnston failed to give them sufficient and timely answers to their questions about the city’s $1.7 billion spending plan.

Now those three have an idea some other cities have tried: Write spending plans for two years each, instead of just one.

In Monday’s Budget and Policy Committee, the council members argued shifting to a two-year budget would increase transparency and community engagement, giving more time for the city council to deliberate and plan strategically. It would be easier to plan big multi-year projects, they argued.

Proponents also addressed some potential drawbacks: Biennial budgets can be shaken up by

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