Berthoud Reports Record-High Reserves Amid Delayed Spending

Town also reviews sustainability plan and approves Heron Lakes development

Mar. 21, 2026 at 12:54am

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Berthoud ended 2025 with its highest reserve levels on record, topping $144 million, even as several major capital projects were delayed. The town board also reviewed the first draft of the town's sustainability action plan and approved a preliminary plat for the 48-lot Heron Lakes residential development.

Why it matters

Berthoud's strong fiscal reserves provide the town flexibility to address future needs, but the delayed capital projects and variances in the budget process have raised questions from trustees about transparency and planning. The sustainability plan aims to guide the town's efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and improve environmental sustainability.

The details

Town Administrator Chris Kirk reported total revenue of $50,948,000 and expenses of $42,935,000 for 2025. While the town had budgeted to spend more, some projects were pushed back or paused. Trustees raised concerns about variances in the budget, including an $8 million difference between budgeted and actual salary expenses. Kirk explained the variances are often due to timing and accounting issues, as well as challenges in hiring for open positions. The town's sustainability team, working with the Cumming Group, presented a draft sustainability action plan focused on reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Electricity use in municipal facilities and transportation emissions were identified as the primary drivers of the town's emissions. Trustees provided feedback on integrating the plan with existing town documents and addressing concerns about the environmental impacts of electric vehicles and solar energy.

  • Berthoud ended 2025 with its highest reserve levels on record.
  • The town board reviewed the first draft of the sustainability action plan at its March 10, 2026 meeting.

The players

Chris Kirk

Berthoud Town Administrator who presented the town's 2025 financial report and explained budget variances.

Brett Wing

Berthoud Trustee who requested more information about budget variances and raised concerns about the environmental impacts of electric vehicles and solar energy.

Brian Dubois

Berthoud's Economic Sustainability Manager who worked with the Cumming Group to develop the town's sustainability action plan.

Katya Balakhovsky

Representative from the Cumming Group who presented the draft sustainability action plan to the Berthoud Town Board.

Jim Birdsall

Spoke to the unique aspects of the Heron Lakes residential development that the Berthoud Town Board approved.

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What they’re saying

“There was a pretty big delta on what we budgeted for salary and what really came in … $8 million versus $1.7 million in expenses. Is this because you couldn't hire people or fill open positions?”

— Brett Wing, Berthoud Trustee

“In some cases, we often don't plan to hire until late in [the] year, or conversely, a job will be posted for several months, but we can't find qualified candidates to fill the position. Sometimes we hire people we have to let go within a few weeks, and some [budgeted for] positions we've chosen not to fill.”

— Chris Kirk, Berthoud Town Administrator

“I just think more information needs to be made visible to the public. The town needs to be included on how we want to bring people here and what it's going to cost us.”

— Becky Dittmer

What’s next

The Berthoud Town Board will review a revised draft of the sustainability action plan at an upcoming meeting on March 24, 2026.

The takeaway

Berthoud's strong fiscal reserves provide the town flexibility, but the budget process and capital project delays have raised transparency concerns. The new sustainability plan aims to guide the town's efforts to reduce emissions, though some trustees have questions about the environmental impacts of certain initiatives.