Downtown Development Authority corrects scrivener error, presents FY2027 budget

Sophia Maize, executive director of the Cheyenne Downtown Development Authority, told the finance committee the DDA corrected a scrivener’s error that had previously overstated its total budget by $30,000 and presented a revised FY2027 budget of $1,122,800.

Maize outlined major allocations in the proposal: $200,000 for facade-improvement grants, $200,000 for capital-improvement grants, $100,000 for a sidewalk-match pilot program, $87,000 for the downtown planter program, $125,000 for community events and a $10,000 proposed contribution to Visit Cheyenne’s shop-local gift-card pilot. She said the largest revenue source remains the mill levy assessment collections, and that the DDA expects to draw $434,190 from reserves for strategic programs.

Council members questioned whether moving into independent office space was budgeted; Maize said the DDA added line items to cover rent, utilities and furniture if an independent office is needed and budgeted roughly $20,000 for office equipment and supplies. Wendy Vulk, vice chair of the DDA, testified in support of the proposed budget.

Council approved the substitute that reduced the total by $30,000 and recommended the corrected budget to the governing body.