Financial predictions for the Denver Regional Transportation District (RTD) now appear to be more positive than previously thought, according to a forecast shared with the agency’s board of directors by the University of Colorado Boulder’s Leeds School of Business (Leeds).
The June forecast, which Leeds staff discussed at a study session with the board, predicts that Denver RTD’s finances could recover to pre-COVID-19 levels two years sooner than previously predicted – by 2023. Revenue for 2020 could be $38.2 million more than previously projected, and revenue for 2021 could be $104.7 million more than previously projected. Both figures assume that Denver RTD staff will continue to plan for a worst-case financial scenario as requested by the board.
The updated forecast shows Denver RTD’s Mid-Term Financial Plan spanning 2021-2026 will be down nine percent, compared with the previous projection showing a drop of 24 for that time period.
“The variation in the numbers demonstrates how volatile the economic situation is due to the COVID-19 outbreak,” said Heather McKillop, Denver RTD’s chief financial officer and assistant general manager of finance and administration. “As we get actual sales and use tax figures, we will update the Board and make changes accordingly.”
The agency says it will continue on a path of reducing costs and streamlining because it still has a large financial gap to address. Cuts made to the 2020 budget under the worst-case scenario will result in a surplus by the end of the year, which will be carried forward to the 2021 budget to help offset projected losses of sales and use tax revenue, decreased fare collection and the unlikely allocation of additional Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act funding.
The difference in forecasts resulted from March revenues being better than anticipated and a case of delayed payments captured in April versus March. These facts, as well as a shorter data collection period, affected the modeling Leeds used. Prior to the pandemic, Denver RTD received forecasts from Leeds in May and September. The school is now updating the agency monthly, to guard against large financial swings amid continued uncertainty.
Denver RTD says it expects to have a better picture of sales tax revenues when it receives May numbers next week. Leeds staff has said that the next two months of receipts will be the most important and revealing from a modeling standpoint.
“It’s going to tell us how consumers and spending are coming back within the Denver metro region,” Brian Lewandowski, executive director of the business research division at the Leeds School, told the board.
