In last month’s article I gave a brief overview of the City’s 2017 year-end financial report and the mostly positive news about the 2017 and 2018 budgets.
In that article, I mentioned that we are fortunate to have a great city staff who are providing excellent municipal services while keeping our finances strong. One aspect of that is planning for the future. And looking into our City crystal ball we see a growing city. Actually, it’s not a crystal ball, it is data from the state demographer projecting Greeley’s population growth, which could approach nearly 150,000 by 2030. That’s just 12 years away!
To be better prepared, we absolutely need to keep up with infrastructure repairs, improvements and operating costs. Knowing that, we have begun working with a citizen’s committee that is studying those needs. That committee has been meeting monthly—they’ve heard the demographer’s projections and input from City staff—and will prepare recommendations for the City Council later this year.
During this process, we have been creating a monthly report to citizens and then distributing it via the Greeley Tribune and making it available on the City’s website, greeleygov.com. Two editions have been published so far: one highlighting the City’s overall financial condition and another listing major mobility/transportation projects and challenges. More monthly editions are planned.
Please take a few minutes to read these 4-page Imagine Greeley reports. I think you’ll see how we are being good stewards of the resources provided by residents while planning for the city’s future.
Roy H. Otto, City Manager