Screenshot / YouTube, Denver7; WEBN-TV CC BY-ND 2.0 DEED, via Flickr, Cropped by Resist the Mainstream

$45 million in funding has been allocated towards programs aimed at addressing the surging influx of migrant arrivals in a move led by a Democratic-controlled city. This decision has led to budget cuts of over $8 million for the police department, sparking outrage.

Denver Mayor Mike Johnston unveiled a comprehensive package last week totaling $45.9 million aimed at fully financing programs for “newcomers” in 2024, thereby averting the worst-case scenarios anticipated by the city.

The mayor’s office says layoffs or furloughs of employees will be avoided, but cuts will still be necessary to secure the additional $45.9 million in funding. The office itself will face a budget reduction of nearly 10%.

Denver’s police department, however, is set to undergo a budget reduction of $8.4 million, constituting approximately 1.9% of its budget.

The city’s fire department is slated to experience a budget reduction of less than 1%, totaling approximately $2.5 million. This decrease will primarily result from the decision not to fill vacant positions.

Johnston remarked, “After more than a year of grappling with this crisis collectively, Denver now has a sustainable plan in place to provide dignified treatment for our newcomers, all while mitigating the most severe cuts to city services.”

Fox News reports that this allocation supplements the $44 million in spending previously secured for the program through earlier budget decisions.

Expenditure on migrants in the city surged dramatically last year, escalating from $2 million a month in August to $15 million by December. Official figures indicate that in January, migrant numbers reached a peak of around 5,000 in shelters, but have subsequently decreased to approximately 1,000.

“Here is your warning not to move to Denver!” wrote the RedWave Press on X.

A significant portion of this cut, roughly $5 million, will stem from the limitation of hiring for vacant positions, as reported by 9News. Notably, the Denver International Airport will continue to recruit police officers and cover the expenses associated with their training.

A new initiative called the Denver Asylum Seekers Program will be established as part of the newly allocated funds. Moreover, this program is expected to benefit approximately 1,000 individuals within the shelter system by providing them with housing assistance options for a period of six months, until they are able to obtain a work permit under their asylum claims.

There will also be a program called WorkReady, which is characterized as an “innovative pre-work authorization readiness program.” This initiative aims to connect migrants with training opportunities, including language instruction.

A spokesperson for Johnston dismissed characterizations of the budget reductions as “defunding” the police, asserting that 167 new police recruits will be added to the force in 2024.

The spokesperson further emphasized that the 1.9% budget cut is below the average of 2.5% cuts applied to all city agencies. They insisted that these cuts will not affect public services and will not result in any officers being removed from duty.

“The City of Denver's adjustment to the Denver Police Department's budget was meticulously devised in collaboration with safety leaders and Mayor Johnston to guarantee that there would be no disruption to the department's public services,” stated spokesperson Jordan Fuja.

They added, “And no officers will be removed from their duties.”

“To say that Denver is 'defunding the police' is a deliberate misrepresentation of the budget adjustments,” he asserted. “These adjustments merely entail postponing the purchase of new furniture and reallocating funds for one cadet class.”

He continued, “In fact, Mayor Johnston has allocated millions to enlist 167 new police recruits in our force for 2024 and remains committed to investing in public safety to ensure the safety of every Denver resident.”