How Evans is run
Who runs Evans, what it costs, and where your money goes
The city manager, council pay, the budget, your property tax bill and who provides each service, from Evans's own public documents. Every number links to its source and says which year it describes. Checked Oct 10, 2026.
Who runs Evans
A city manager appointed by the City Council runs the city day to day as its chief administrative officer. The seven-member council, a mayor elected at large and two members from each of three wards, sets policy and adopts the budget. The council also appoints the city attorney and municipal judge.
What they are paid
Evans city staff
133 full-time-equivalent positions. FY2026 budget. City of Evans · Oct 7, 2025
The budget lists staffing by department and a city pay plan with ranges by position; we found no published pay list by employee. We name pay only for elected officials and the city manager.
Is Evans in the red?
Cities must pass a balanced budget, so "profit" and "deficit" mean something different here. The useful questions: does the city's everyday money (the general fund) cover its everyday costs, how much does it keep in savings compared with its own target, and how big are its pension and debt bills.
The city's own outlook
The city's five-year plan has general fund revenue exceeding operating spending in 2026 only. Shortfalls follow each year from 2027, reaching $1.8 million in 2030, when fund balance would be $4.8 million, below the $7.6 million minimum reserve. Fund balance was projected to fall from $23.9 million to $9.2 million in 2025. The council plans to seek an indefinite extension of the 1% street sales tax, which ends June 30, 2027, and to evaluate its 3.536-mill property tax levy, the lowest of any city in Weld County. City of Evans · Oct 7, 2025
Savings against the city's own target
Unassigned general fund balance: $12.9M (2024-12-31). The city's own target: City policy keeps a general fund reserve of at least 25% of prior-year operating spending, plus $1 million in the charter's Emergency Contingency Fund. The 2026 budget sets the reserve at $7.25 million, 32% of 2025 projected operating spending. City of Evans · Jun 3, 2025
Why we skip the "budgeted deficit": many cities plan to dip into savings, then spend less than planned. The audited result tells you what really happened.
Where the money comes from and goes
The general fund only: the city's everyday money for FY2026.
Comes from
- Sales tax$11.9M · 53%
- Transfers in from other city funds$2.8M · 13%
- Intergovernmental$2M · 9%
- Other taxes$1.5M · 7%
- Licenses and permits$1.5M · 7%
- Property tax$953,206 · 4%
- Other (miscellaneous, charges for services, fines)$1.5M · 7%
Goes to (FY2026)
- Public safety (police)$8M · 36%
- General government$6.2M · 28%
- Public works$3.4M · 15%
- Culture, parks and recreation$2.4M · 11%
- Community development$1.5M · 7%
- Other (asset management, fire services payment)$700,000 · 3%
Who provides your services
Not everything in Evans is run by the city. Who provides a service decides whose budget pays for it and whose election decides it.
- PoliceThe cityEvans Police Department37 authorized sworn officers.City of Evans · Oct 7, 2025
- Fire protectionSeparate districtEvans Fire Protection DistrictThe district lies entirely within the city's boundaries.Evans Fire Protection District · Aug 1, 2025
- AmbulancePrivate companyUC Health, under contract with the fire districtEvans Fire Protection District · Aug 1, 2025
- Emergency dispatchThe countyWeld County Communications CenterEvans Fire Protection District · Aug 1, 2025
- WaterThe cityCity water utilityCity of Evans · Oct 7, 2025
- SewerThe cityCity wastewater utilityThe treatment plant is nearing capacity; the city expects an expansion costing more than $100 million between 2026 and 2045.City of Evans · Oct 7, 2025
- Trash and recyclingPrivate companyWaste Management, under a city contractCity of Evans
- StreetsThe cityCity of EvansCity of Evans · Oct 7, 2025
- Parks and recreationThe cityCity of EvansCity of Evans · Oct 7, 2025
- Public transitAnother agencyCity of Greeley, under an agreement with the cityCity of Evans · Oct 7, 2025
Compared with similar cities
The cities in this state closest in population that we cover. Read it for scale, not as a ranking: cities provide different services.
| Per city | MonumentCO | FirestoneCO | EvansCO | ErieCO |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Residents | 13,813 | 20,129 | 22,500 | 40,904 |
| Top administrator's base pay | $195,000 | Not confirmed | Not confirmed | $230,000 |
| Council member pay | Not confirmed | Not confirmed | Not confirmed | $3,600 |
| General fund per resident | $1,065 | $1,143 | $989 | $1,847 |
| Debt per resident | $1,422 | $3,556 | $1,617 | $1,354 |
| Unfunded pension per resident | $0 | $299 | $0 | $0 |
| City staff per 1,000 residents | — | 7.0 | 5.9 | 7.8 |
Figures as shown in each city's section, divided by its population. Years differ by state, and pension figures are measured differently in each state (each city page says how). Evans and Erie pays another agency for police or fire, so its own staff count is lower.
What Evans publishes
What a resident can find online today. A "no" is something you can ask the council to publish.
- Yes: Adopted budget posted onlineThe 2026 Operating and Capital Budget, adopted Oct. 7, 2025, is posted as a full budget book with a five-year plan. City of Evans · Oct 7, 2025
- No: City manager's contract findable onlineWe found no posted employment agreement or salary for City Manager Cody Sims on the city website. City of Evans
- No: Council votes recorded member by member onlineMinutes we found name who moved and seconded each motion and report only the result, such as all voting in favor. City of Evans · Jul 5, 2022
- Yes: Meeting videos and minutes onlineAgendas and minutes are posted online, and council meetings are livestreamed on the city's YouTube channel with archived videos. City of Evans
- No: Council pay stated in a public documentThe charter leaves council pay to ordinance. We found no readable document stating the amount; the council page does not list it. City of Evans
Questions to ask your council
- The five-year plan shows general fund shortfalls every year from 2027, reaching $1.8 million in 2030, when fund balance would be $4.8 million, below the $7.6 million minimum reserve. Which revenue or spending changes will close that gap?
- The 1% street sales tax ends June 30, 2027. If voters do not extend it, how will the city pay for street work?
- General fund balance was projected to fall from $23.9 million to $9.2 million in 2025. When will the audited 2025 report confirm the final figure?
- The wastewater treatment plant is nearing capacity and needs a multi-phase expansion, on top of $36.4 million in existing utility loans. How will it be financed, and what will it mean for sewer rates?
The fiscal year runs Jan. 1 to Dec. 31. The city manager submits a proposed budget to the council by Oct. 15, the council holds a public hearing, and it adopts the budget by resolution, in most years before Dec. 31. For 2026, the proposed budget went to the council Sept. 16, 2025, and the council held the hearing and adopted it Oct. 7, 2025. See who is running for council
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