Newsmakers Oct. 3-16: Recovery spurs cities’ spending surge

Municipalities across the Boulder Valley and Northern Colorado have spent roughly $2.1 billion in 2014, up about $200 million, or 11 percent, over last year.

The surge in spending is true across the board, from larger communities, such as Louisville, Longmont and Loveland, to small towns such as Wellington, according to an analysis by BizWest.

After years of recession-driven budget cuts, 25 cities are loosening the purse strings this year, with some cities seeing budgets that are more than 50 percent higher than they were in 2008.