Castle Rock budget proposes 10 public-safety positions, water-rate hikes
The staffing plan adds four positions beyond voter-approved levels and moves two officers up from 2028; the town also forecasts sales-tax growth tied partly to Costco’s expected opening.
Published at
Castle Rock’s proposed 2027 budget would fund 10 Fire and Police positions and increase water rates and fees by 4% to 5%.
The proposal lists five Fire and Rescue positions: a deputy chief of administration, an emergency manager, a training captain and two firefighter/paramedics. The first three are additions to the voter-approved staffing plan; the two firefighter/paramedic positions were already planned.
The five Police positions are a traffic officer, a detective, a dispatcher and two Strategic Response Center officers. The traffic officer would add to the voter-approved plan. The detective and dispatcher were planned for 2027, while the two Strategic Response Center officers would move up from 2028.
The proposal also raises growth-related water system development fees, Red Hawk Ridge golf greens fees and Recreation Center admission fees. It does not estimate how the proposed water-rate increase would affect a typical customer’s bill.
The town forecasts $99.3 million in 2027 sales-tax revenue, a 4.5% increase. The budget message attributes much of the projected growth to Costco’s anticipated opening. Fire Station 156 and a Logistics Center on Castle Oaks Drive are also planned to open and begin operating in 2027.
The proposed budget calls for $411.8 million in spending, with $348.5 million in expected revenue and $63.3 million from fund balance. It includes $18.6 million for pavement maintenance. The separate 2027–2031 capital improvement plan totals about $291.3 million, including nearly $147 million for water, stormwater and wastewater projects.
The Town Council agenda set the budget proposal for consideration Oct. 6 and lists a second reading for Oct. 20.