Standards and procedures for payment of performance recognition bonuses.
Denver Revised Municipal Code § 18-76
in effectSec. 18-76. - Standards and procedures for payment of performance recognition bonuses.
The mayor may authorize departments and agencies of the city to make disbursements for payment of performance recognition bonuses for eligible employees according to the following standards and procedures:
(a) The head of the department or agency wishing to initiate a recognition bonus program shall submit for the prior written approval of the mayor a plan detailing the criteria proposed to award such payments: the mechanism by which the bonus will be nominated, reviewed and approved; the individual payment award amounts; and the total amount of monies set aside for the recognition bonuses during the fiscal year along with a certification that said funds are available within the existing appropriated budget and that the recognition bonus program will not necessitate a supplemental budget request or a supplemental appropriation.
(b) Any criteria adopted pursuant to this section shall further the mission of the agency and the city.
(c) At a minimum, the recognition bonus program of each agency and department participating shall include a nomination form completed pursuant to a nomination process established by the head of the agency or department and shall include a review of each nomination by a panel of agency staff that includes at least one non-management employee. The head of the agency or department shall notify the employees in his or her respective agency or department of the nomination procedures and forms.
(d) Per calendar year, the total dollar amount or cash-value amount of recognition bonus awards to any one individual shall not exceed a gross amount of one hundred fifty dollars ($150.00), and the minimum dollar amount or cash-value amount of any recognition bonus shall be twenty-five dollars ($25.00).
(e) Payments for approved recognition bonuses shall be processed through the applicable human resources department and shall be processed through the auditor's office as set forth in subsection (f) of this section 18-76.
(f) Recognition bonuses may only be paid in the calendar year in which the individual's performance being recognized is performed. The recognition bonus payment shall be subject to any and all withholdings for taxes, employee contributions for benefits, and any other similar withholding that may be required by law or authorized by the employee.
(Ord. No. 101-07, § 2, 3-5-07)
Source: City and County of Denver, Revised Municipal Code and Charter (Municode Library, library.municode.com)URL: https://library.municode.com/co/denver/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=TITIIREMUCO_CH18EMOFPABE_ARTIICLPAPL_DIV4INPAREBO_S18-76STPRPAPEREBOFetched: 10/27/2026