Staff Reports
In a recent interview with ABC News, Denver Mayor Mike Johnston warned that the city’s budget could face massive cuts due to the financial strain caused by the influx of migrants if the federal government doesn’t step in to help. Johnston expressed concerns that if the sanctuary city doesn’t receive assistance, they may have to slash their budget by a whopping 10%, a deeper cut than what was made during the recession in the late 2000s and early 2010s.
The mayor emphasized the severity of the situation, stating that the city is currently grappling with the prospect of making difficult decisions about where to make these significant cuts. He urged the federal government to take action on President Biden’s proposed supplemental budget of $14 billion, emphasizing that this funding could alleviate the strain on the city’s resources. Without federal intervention, Johnston estimates that the city could face a staggering $160 million impact, amounting to 10% of the entire budget.
Denver Mayor: Migrants Will Force our Sanctuary City to Make Bigger Cuts than We Did During Recession https://t.co/M4Som0LgIo
— Jack Banker (@Jabanker) December 29, 2023
While Johnston did not specify which city departments would bear the brunt of the cuts, he underscored the unprecedented nature of the potential budget reductions, surpassing even the cuts made during the recession. The mayor’s plea for federal assistance serves as a stark reminder of the challenges faced by sanctuary cities grappling with the financial burden of migrant influxes.
In the face of these daunting fiscal prospects, Mayor Johnston’s message is clear: Denver is in dire need of federal support to mitigate the budgetary repercussions of the migrant influx. His call for action underscores the complexities and strains placed on local governments amid ongoing immigration challenges, and serves as a stark reminder of the impacts of federal policies on the financial well-being of cities like Denver.
