Denver's mayor is blaming slow revenue growth and "unsustainable" city expenses for a $50 million budget shortfall for the remainder of 2025 and a projected $200 million budget shortfall for 2026 which he called "a profound challenge.

It’s not yet clear how many layoffs will be necessary or how Denver city services will be affected, but deep cuts are unavoidable, Mayor Mike Johnston said.

Mayor Mike Johnston announced furloughs and a hiring freeze during a Thursday morning news conference, as the city faces a $250 million budget deficit.