The New City Budget Is Worth Looking At Before It Is Final
Centennial’s proposed 2027–2028 budget is now public. The City Manager presented it to City Council on September 15, with detailed budget workshops scheduled for October 12 and 13. The proposal covers infrastructure, public safety, community services and other City operations. A public hearing is required before the budget is ultimately adopted. Centennial, CO
That timing matters. Once a road project begins or a service changes, the underlying funding decisions may have been developing for months.
Transportation remains a particularly significant part of Centennial’s financial discussion. The City reports approximately $15 million in dedicated annual Street Fund revenue compared with at least $35 million needed annually to operate and maintain its transportation infrastructure. A separate 1% sales and use tax question will appear on the November 3 ballot, with revenue dedicated to transportation-related Public Works expenses if voters approve it. Centennial, CO
The budget and ballot measure are separate decisions, but reading them together can give residents a clearer picture of the financial questions facing the City.
Explore Centennial’s proposed 2027–2028 budget
Review information about the November transportation funding measure
Graywater Rules Have Changed in Centennial
Water conservation is increasingly part of the Colorado conversation, but residents should know that local rules matter too.
On September 15, Centennial City Council adopted Ordinance 2026-O-15, opting the City out of Colorado’s graywater program and prohibiting graywater treatment works and graywater use within Centennial. Centennial, CO
That is especially useful to know before investing in a home water-reuse system or incorporating one into a renovation. Centennial is also served by multiple water and sanitation districts, so residents may encounter different providers depending on where they live.
The City’s Property Search tool can identify your water district, sanitation district, fire district, school district and other local service providers simply by entering a Centennial address. Centennial, CO
Find your Centennial water and service districts
Annexation Sounds Technical, Until It Changes the Map
Another decision worth understanding this week involves the proposed Elevation Volleyball Annexation.
City Council is scheduled to hold a public hearing on October 6 at 7 p.m. regarding the annexation and initial zoning of approximately 10.88 acres. The property is currently under Arapahoe County zoning, with a proposal to bring it into Centennial and designate it Employment Center–Light Industrial–50 under the City’s Land Development Code. Centennial, CO
Residents may comment during the hearing. Written comments are due to the City Clerk by 1 p.m. October 5. Centennial, CO
Whether or not a particular project is near your neighborhood, annexations are worth understanding because they determine which government has jurisdiction and which zoning rules guide future use of the property.
Read Centennial’s current legal notices and public-hearing information
Fall Does Not Automatically Mean Fire Season Is Finished
Cooler mornings can make it feel as though summer fire concerns have packed their bags for the year. Not quite.
As of late September, Centennial is still highlighting an Arapahoe County Stage 1 Burn Ban due to heightened fire risk. Because restrictions can change with conditions, residents planning outdoor fires, fall cleanup or other activities involving flame should check the current status rather than relying on last week’s rules. Centennial, CO
Check current Arapahoe County emergency and burn-ban information
This Week’s Pulse
Community awareness does not require becoming an expert in municipal finance, zoning or water law.
Sometimes it simply means knowing which decisions are being made before they arrive at your curb.
A budget tells us where resources may go. A zoning notice tells us how land may change. A municipal ordinance can affect what we are allowed to do at home. And a seasonal safety restriction can change what is appropriate in our own backyard.
That is the kind of pulse worth checking.
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Sometimes these government processes feel intimidating, but the way each one actually shapes daily life is a good reminder to pay attention.
Public safety and transportation are where the money needs to go. Just hope there’s enough scrutiny so it’s not wasted. Watching this budget closely.
You're absolutely right, public safety and transportation are high priorities, and the City's budget process includes multiple workshops and hearings to ensure close review and accountability.
It feels weird that Centennial won’t allow graywater systems when the state does. Wish we could have kept it an option for eco-friendly homes.
I appreciate that even the zoning notice info gets posted here. I almost ignored annexation stuff in the past and then realized it can affect property values.
I’m glad you mentioned that water service can even vary block by block. I’ve switched garbage companies twice and still don't know all my districts.
I had no clue about the Elevation Volleyball annexation. Is that going to be another big warehouse or something? Hope it's something good for the area.
How do we know the 1% sales tax won't just creep higher every time there’s a new project? A little worried about what else will get added later.
I like seeing the city be transparent with the budget before anything is finalized. Gives us a shot to speak up if something seems off.
Thank you for recognizing the transparency. Making the proposed budget public early is intended to encourage community feedback and involvement before adoption.
Wish there was more detail on why Centennial left the graywater program. Was this a cost issue or just regulation headaches?
Thanks for the heads up about the burn ban. I was about to pile up some yard waste for a burn next weekend, but I'll double check now.
That explanation about why budget decisions take so long makes sense. You never realize how many steps happen before anything actually changes.
I wish the city would spend more on sidewalks in older parts of town. Not just roads for cars. Our kids walk to school and it can be sketchy.
Honestly, the part about water rules changing is why I like these updates. My neighbor just asked about installing graywater stuff, so this will save them time.
Cassie ValdezThat’s great you can spread the word to your neighbor. I had no idea about the graywater ban until now either. Seems like these little updates really do matter!
It's good to know about the public hearing dates in advance. I usually find out too late. Hoping more people comment this time.
Reading about the annexation proposal makes me wonder if nearby neighborhoods will have input. It's not really clear how these zoning decisions affect traffic, noise, etc.
With all these updates about city meetings, I wish there was a single calendar to track hearings and deadlines. Always tough keeping up.
Gotta say, I'm not thrilled about another possible sales tax increase, but our roads seem worse every year. I guess it might be necessary.
We appreciate your perspective, balancing the need for better roads with concerns about new taxes is exactly the kind of input the City wants as decisions are made.
Are there other cities around here that still allow graywater reuse? Not sure I get why Centennial would restrict it when water is so precious.
Thanks for linking the upcoming workshops. I'm interested in the transportation funding part, but $35 million needed vs $15 million seems like a huge gap.
The transportation funding gap is a significant concern, it's one of the key reasons the City is asking voters to consider a dedicated sales and use tax measure this November.
I don't like the city opting out of the graywater program. Seems like a missed opportunity for conservation, especially with droughts getting worse.
I'm always confused about which water district I'm in. That property search tool sounds useful. Maybe now I can actually figure it out before my next bill arrives.
The info about the burn ban is helpful. I totally forgot Arapahoe still had restrictions with it cooling off. Glad for the reminder before I planned a backyard fire pit night.