Mapleton's fiber utility budget counts on 52% more billing revenue in fiscal 2027

Mapleton's adopted budget for its city-owned fiber internet utility forecasts $2,963,250 in billing revenue for fiscal 2027, which began July 1, 2026. That is $1,019,250, or 52.4%, more than the $1,944,000 approved for fiscal 2026, according to the budget's Mapleton Fiber schedule. ^[1]

The council adopted the budget 5-0 on June 3, 2026. ^[6]

What the fiber fund budgets

The schedule budgets $1,398,980 for fiber operations, including $597,582 in salaries and $335,156 in benefits, and $38,208 for billing and collections. ^[1]

Under capital projects and transfers it lists $230,138 in interest and $330,000 in principal on the 2021 network revenue bond, $522,545 in interest and $317,000 in principal on the 2023 bond, $5,000 in bond administration fees and a $13,400 transfer for vehicle replacement, for a subtotal of $1,418,082. ^[1]

Total budgeted fiber fund expenses are $2,855,271, up 53.8% from fiscal 2026. The remaining $107,979 is budgeted as an increase to fund balance reserves, compared with $87,754 in the fiscal 2026 budget. The schedule budgets no depreciation. ^[1]

The fiscal 2026 fiber operating budget carried only the 2021 bond payments, $239,738 in interest and $320,000 in principal. That year, the separate fiber capital projects fund budgeted a $522,545 transfer to debt service, which matches the 2023 bond interest due in fiscal 2026 in the audit's repayment schedule. ^[1][7][4]

Earlier fiber revenue

The fiber operating schedule shows no actual revenue for fiscal 2024 or 2025 because earlier fiber activity was recorded in the network's capital projects fund. That fund reported $390,798 in fiber billing revenue in fiscal 2024 and $1,222,238 in fiscal 2025, according to the budget's actual columns. ^[7]

The fiscal 2025 audit reports the same $1,222,238 as charges for service in the Community Network capital fund. Management's discussion in the audit says that at the start of fiscal 2026 the network would be fully operational and the capital fund would be closed, with its assets, liabilities and equity transferred to an enterprise fund. ^[3][8]

Growth in the service area

At the council's Jan. 15, 2025 meeting, Fiber Director Phil Holmes said the unit count in the network's feasibility study had grown from 2,800 to 5,500, raising infrastructure costs. He said the network had 1,255 connections. ^[5]

On Feb. 5, 2025, the council voted 4-0 to accept amendments to the network's August 2023 feasibility study, with Councilmember Kasey Beck excused. ^[9]

Two figures for the same payment

The budget's narrative overview lists the fiscal 2027 payments on the 2021 bond as $320,000 in principal and $230,137.50 in interest. The detailed fiber schedule lists $330,000 in principal, which matches the fiscal 2027 amount in the audit's repayment schedule. ^[2][1][4]