---
title: "County approves behavioral health grants 2-1; council weighs wildfire hardening"
date: "2026-10-24"
weekStart: "2026-10-18"
weekEnd: "2026-10-24"
meetings: 4
generated: true
drafted: "2026-10-25T12:15:19.666Z"
---
## Boulder County Commissioners

### Business meeting, October 20

The Commissioners approved the first competitive grant awards from the behavioral health tax. The vote was 2-1. Marta Loachamin and Claire Levy voted yes. Ashley Stolzmann voted no.

The motion approved the awards as staff presented them. It also asked for a work session or public meetings on gaps in services.

Stolzmann said the board gave the awards no strategic direction. She said too little money went to serious mental illness and treatment. Levy questioned two of the awards. She still backed the staff recommendation and the three-year funding plan.

The board also heard the monthly Head Start report.

### Public hearing on the 2027 budget, October 22

The Commissioners finished their review of the Public Works road and bridge budget. They agreed by consensus to keep all eight decision points. These include $13 million for road resurfacing.

The board then held the public hearing on the 2027 recommended budget. About 25 people spoke. Most were county employees and union members.

- **Layoffs and reserves.** Fourteen speakers asked the board to avoid layoffs. They said the county has $110 million in reserves and a AAA rating. They said the projections are too pessimistic. They asked for 60 days notice, severance, and recall rights.
- **Paid holidays.** Eight speakers asked for paid holidays, paid time off, and benefits for hourly and seasonal workers.
- **Extension Office.** Five speakers asked the board to restore the Extension cuts. At a minimum, they asked it to keep the Master Gardener coordinator position.
- **Chamber of commerce funding.** A representative of the Boulder Chamber asked the board to keep county funding for chambers of commerce.
- **Short-term rental program.** One resident said the program wasted about $5 million. The resident alleged illegal septic fees and called for the commissioners to resign.

The board will act on the budget on November 5.

In the afternoon, the board [approved landmark designation of the Bowman House (docket HP-26-0005) 3-0](https://politics.boulderhopkins.com/county/votes/af74d90d-3e89-42c4-93b7-0bfb8613150f-1). The approval came with the two standard conditions.

## Boulder City Council

### Study session, October 22

Council held a study session on two completed council priorities. It took no votes.

Staff reported that bike theft is down 14% in 2026. Council members asked mostly about staffing, ebikes, and bike registration.

The main item was the Wildfire Ready 2030 framework. It includes a new risk index, a home hardening hub, and 14 measures. Staff described $1.85 million in possible 2027 enhancements. The 2027 budget already holds $1.4 million.

Council members pushed for higher hardening targets. They asked staff for a crosswalk of the two wildfire building standards. They also asked staff to consider a future mandatory hardening ordinance.

## BVSD Board of Education

### School visit, October 21

The Board of Education held a school visit called "BVSD Is The Place To Be Showcase." This meeting has not been transcribed yet.