The city of Denver has announced plans to defund the police to pay for the immigration crisis as the Democratic city strips the $8.4 million police budget.
The sanctuary city’s progressive mayor, Mike Johnston, unveiled a budget proposal Wednesday, allocating $89.9 million to help incoming undocumented immigrants, whom he refers to as “newcomers.”
The amount will be drawn from approximately $45 million that is used for public programs and services.
As a result of this reallocation, the police and fire department are expected to face budget cuts.
Johnston stated that this was the best option available to provide services to migrants.
The sanctuary city’s progressive mayor, Mike Johnston, unveiled a budget proposal Wednesday, allocating $89.9 million to help incoming undocumented immigrants, whom he refers to as “newcomers.”
The city of Denver has announced plans to defund the police to pay for the immigration crisis as the Democratic city strips the $8.4 million police budget.
Homelessness in Denver, Colorado is a big problem, as is the drug use and mental health issues of many of those on the streets.
“After more than a year of facing this crisis together, Denver finally has a sustainable plan to treat our newcomers with dignity while avoiding the worst cuts to city services,” Johnston said at the press conference. on “Newcomer Operations and 2024 Budget.”
‘Many times we were told that we could not be compassionate and at the same time be fiscally responsible. Today is proof that our most difficult challenges still have solutions and that together we are the ones who will solve them.’
Denver plans to spend the $89.9 million on various migrant assistance programs in 2024, including $3 million for ‘Program Management,’ $51.7 million for ‘Shelter and Housing,’ $9.7 million for ‘Support Services,’ and $9.5 million for ‘One-time capital costs’. and 10 million dollars for ‘Contingency’.
As a result, the fire department is expected to see budget cuts of about $2.5 million.
Additionally, the city confirmed that the police department will face a reduction of $8.4 million, equal to nearly two percent of its total operating budget.
The city does not plan to lay off its municipal employees; However, the city anticipates saving nearly $20 million by refraining from hiring certain applicants for currently vacant positions at various city agencies.
About 160 positions of the roughly 13,000 in Denver will remain vacant.
Denver will also implement changes to the payment structure for 911 operators as part of cost-saving measures.
The city intends to use funds from its “911 trust fund” to compensate 911 operators in 2024, although the exact amount of savings resulting from this fund is unknown.
The mayor’s office will suffer the largest percentage of budget reduction, and the city plans to cut 9.6 percent of funding from Mayor Johnston’s office, for a total of $335,155.
The Department of Climate Action, Sustainability and Resilience will face a budget cut of around 6.1 per cent, while the Department of Transport and Infrastructure will be reduced by 3.8 per cent.
As a result of this reallocation, the police and fire department are among the departments expected to face budget cuts (Venezuelan immigrants wait in line to obtain paperwork to be admitted to shelters at an immigrant processing center on May 9, 2023). in Denver, Colorado)
The amount will be drawn from approximately $45 million that is used for public programs and services (Migrants rest in a makeshift shelter, January 6, 2023, in Denver)
Venezuelan migrants wait to obtain paperwork to be admitted to shelters at a migrant processing center on May 9, 2023 in Denver, Colorado.
A migrant camp seen in Denver, Colorado.
Venezuelan migrants wait to be processed in Denver, Colorado. The sanctuary city, which already has 700,000 residents, has been struggling to expand its limited housing stock.
Colorado’s capital has been inundated with new immigrants crossing the border, even though the city is already on the brink in terms of resources.
With more than 40,000 arrivals in 2023 alone, the influx of migrants has contributed to a total migrant population of around 710,000 in the city.
In response, Denver has already spent more than $42 million on migrant housing and medical services in 2023 and anticipates surpassing $100 million for similar spending in 2024.
Denver, like other cities like New York, is facing the brunt of the national influx crisis at the southern border.
In January, Denver’s progressive mayor, Mike Johnston, predicted that the city would have to spend 10 percent of its annual budget on immigrants, and would also need an additional $100 million to provide them with housing, education and health care.