Roads. Bridges. Streetlights. Parks. Trails. Public buildings. We see these things almost every day. They enable us to move around town, enjoy public spaces and keep us safe, but how much thought do we give them? They share an important common denominator: They are all largely funded by the city’s budget.

In the recent election, our community made a decision that will shape Boulder for generations. By voting to indefinitely extend the existing Community, Culture, Safety and Resilience sales and use tax, our community affirmed that we are a city that invests in itself, cares for its shared spaces and believes in a better future.

This tax plays a key role in addressing underfunded city infrastructure and maintenance in areas our community counts on, like parks and recreation, roads and multi-use paths, and public safety. The funds will help the city better plan for the future of capital projects and services, and the maintenance to take care of them. This tax also funds capital grants for local non-profits. These core facets of local government are essential to community health and well-being.

We know that tax measures are not easy decisions. Every household has its own budget to consider, and every voter had to weigh this choice carefully. Thank you for recognizing that aging infrastructure doesn’t fix itself, and that proactive investment helps preserve what we have for future generations. The areas funded through this measure — from road, path and sidewalk enhancements to facility upgrades and improvements to essential safety systems — will make our community more accessible and more resilient.

This vote is about more than infrastructure. It is a vote of confidence in the future of our city. It is an acknowledgment that our shared places, such as community parks, recreation centers and trails, are the foundation of a thriving and welcoming community.

Earlier this year, the city announced a budget shortfall of about $10 million due to flattening revenue from major sources, such as sales and use taxes, property taxes, legislative impacts and increasing costs. The city has already implemented several cost-saving measures to help close this gap and balance the budget for 2026.

In the long term, building a financial strategy to achieve more spending flexibility, revenue stability, and identifying new revenue sources to address emerging needs and meet our community’s expectations is a top priority. The city’s Long-Term Financial Strategy Project is designed to guide the city’s financial future in a sustainable, equitable and resilient way.

Through this work, we hope to achieve more flexibility with the dollars we have and to identify new sources of revenue to better address dynamic needs. We’ve started by carefully considering the ways we’re spending money and how we achieve the most important outcomes. Because we understand that our community’s capacity to pay more is limited, we’re being thoughtful and strategic as we consider options.

This tax extension is just one way we are moving toward a more stable financial future for our community. While this extension helps us maintain current conditions, we still have unfunded needs to address as a community. Over the next year, we’ll be seeking input on what you consider to be core, essential services and what acceptable performance looks like in these areas. We look forward to hearing your perspectives and insights to help shape our financial landscape for years ahead.

As we begin the work ahead, we commit to transparency and accountability. We commit to stretching our budget as far as we can, and to ensuring that every dollar of your investment in our city is used responsibly and effectively.

Cities succeed when community members and local government work together with a shared purpose. With this vote, you’ve shown that our community is united by a belief in our future.

Thank you for your trust as we build a more resilient Boulder, together.

Nuria Rivera-Vandermyde is Boulder’s City Manager. This piece is co-signed by the Boulder City Council.