How Boulder Works: Video Explainers
Short videos that break down how local government works, using real‑world examples and insights from the City of Boulder.
Modern cities are complex places, and it’s not always obvious how decisions get made or how the systems behind them work. This evolving series of short videos shares what I’ve learned in five years on Boulder's City Council about how the city works, for anyone who wants to understand their city a little better.
Understanding Boulder's Budget Gap
Part 1: The Internal Pressures
The financial challenges facing Colorado cities in the late 2020s extend beyond a single budget year or political cycle and affect municipal finances regardless of who’s on the City Council or what the economy is doing. This is especially true in Boulder, where decades of earmarking and dedicated taxes have fragmented revenue and spending.
This first video brings together the 2008 and 2010 Blue Ribbon Commission (BRC) findings, which anticipated many of the fiscal pressures Boulder faces today. It also explains the long‑term patterns the BRC identified inside Boulder’s revenue system: slower revenue growth, faster cost growth, and a tax structure that no longer aligns with how people spend money. These internal pressures help explain why Boulder, like many cities in Colorado and across the country, is struggling to keep up with rising costs.
Municipal Road Maintenance
Maintaining Boulder’s roads takes many different people working in connected roles. Some of that work is visible, like paving and repairs. Other parts happen behind the scenes, such as engineering, traffic operations, project coordination, and securing the funding that keeps our transportation system running.
This video explains why road maintenance involves more than the small number of field staff people often see, and why every role matters. Click here to read more about Boulder's Transportation and Mobility Department.
