Grand Junction city officials are proposing to cut the city's mailed calendar, close the Grand Junction Senior Recreation Center, and eliminate 13 city employee positions as part of efforts to balance a $317.4 million budget. The draft budget, discussed Monday, Oct. 5, outlines changes City Manager Mike Bennett stated were necessary to address “structural deficits” where city costs are rising faster than tax revenues.
The Grand Junction City Calendar, which has been mailed to every household in city limits for over a decade, would be discontinued starting in 2028. The calendar currently serves as an informal notice for regularly scheduled meetings and showcases local photography from a competitive contest. Bennett noted its production costs around $60,000, an expense he said officials could not justify given the need for cuts elsewhere. A 2027 calendar will still be produced, as it is already in the midst of production and comes out of the 2026 budget.
Another significant cut is the proposed closure of the Grand Junction Senior Recreation Center on Ouray Avenue. The center, an activity hub for people over age 50, offers pool tables, card games, puzzles, and bingo groups, run by a mix of city employees and a local nonprofit. Under the draft budget, these activities would relocate to the newly opened Community Recreation Center in Matchett Park.
Council Member Scott Beilfuss, who is a dues-paying member of the senior center, pushed back on the proposed move, stating, “This is going to be a real kick in the stomach.” He emphasized that the center serves as a low-income safe haven for many who have few other options. City Manager Bennett explained the relocation would have a “multipronged” effect on the budget, freeing up staff obligations to the facility while potentially allowing personnel in other city departments to set up offices in the Ouray Avenue building, instead of using leased office space. Alternatively, some elected officials suggested the building could be sold to help cover one-time city expenses. Council Member Anna Stout acknowledged that pushback was expected but noted the move made fiscal sense for the city.
The budget proposal also includes the elimination of 13 staff positions, three of which are currently filled. City Manager Bennett noted two of these employees were offered similar roles. This change is expected to trim $2 million from the local government’s expenses, covering both labor and benefits, affecting roles in general services, city management, and community development departments. Bennett stated that reducing positions, even vacant ones, was a painful but necessary step toward meeting budget targets.
Beyond outright cuts, the draft budget also proposes reducing certain services. City Hall’s customer service counters would close on Fridays, though most staff in the building would still report to work. This change would mean residents could not pay parking tickets or inspect public documents on Fridays, which is consistently the building's lowest-traffic day of the week, according to Bennett. Operating times at Lincoln Park Pool and the Dos Rios Splash Pad would also see slight reductions to lessen seasonal staff obligations, with fine details still in the works.
The city also plans to shift the delivery of certain housing-related services onto community partner groups, such as the Grand Junction Housing Authority and Hilltop Community Resources. Under this proposal, the Neighbor to Neighbor program and educational symposiums for landlords would transition to these third-party groups, allowing the city to cut its housing manager position. Bennett emphasized this is a change in service provider, not an elimination of the service itself. Additionally, the ash tree protection program would end, a recommendation from the city parks department, which has tentative plans to seek replacement funding through grant applications.
These proposed changes come as the city aims to balance its overall $317.4 million budget, with officials fighting what they describe as “structural deficits” where city costs are rising faster than tax revenues. City Manager Bennett stressed the need for the city to live within its means and set itself up for financial sustainability. Other budget adjustments include expected savings of $2.8 million from insurance plan changes and $3.1 million from cost reallocations and operational reductions. A $2.3 million subsidy from the city’s contingency funds is also planned to help cover first responder and public safety wages. Mayor Pro Tem Ben Van Dyke commented that these tough decisions require all departments to contribute and everybody to pitch in.
