City Council champions public safety, parks in 2027 budget amendments

The Colorado Springs City Council will consider several amendments focused on public safety and parks as part of its review of the proposed 2027 City Budget.

Mayor Yemi Mobolade delivered his proposed 2027 City Budget to City Council on October 5. Under the City Charter, City Council is responsible for reviewing the proposal and adopting the Budget, with or without amendment.

At its markup session last Thursday, October 29, City Council advanced amendments increasing compensation for sworn members of the Colorado Springs Police and Fire Departments by an additional 1%. City Council also agreed to purchase needed cardiac monitors for the Fire Department outright, instead of a proposed lease-purchase program, avoiding financing costs over the next eight years.

For the Parks, Recreation and Cultural Services Department, City Council is proposing $469,000 in additional funding to restore a previously unfunded park maintenance position, add a skilled maintenance technician, create a new strategic safety position, and fund another high-priority position identified by the department. The additional funding will also provide a new graffiti removal machine and repairs to the Deerfield Hills Sprayground.

To help offset these new expenditures, City Council proposed appropriating approximately $163,000 to the City's Finance Department to create two new positions related to sales tax enforcement. The City anticipates these positions will generate in $1.5 million in additional sales tax revenue next year.

City Council is also proposing to move nearly $138,000 from the City Attorney's Office into a separate General Costs account for legal services for City Council. City Council is also considering removing a temporary mill levy credit on property taxes, with the resulting revenue allocated to a TABOR-restricted reserve account.

City Council will formally consider the proposed amendments as part of its adoption of the 2027 City Budget. The first reading and vote on the City Budget ordinance is scheduled for 9 a.m. Tuesday, November 10 at the Regular Meeting of City Council. A second reading and vote is scheduled for 9 a.m. Tuesday, November 24 at the Regular Meeting of City Council. Both meetings will be held in City Council Chambers at City Hall, 107 North Nevada Avenue, and will be open to the public. The meetings will also be broadcast on Springs TV, Comcast channels 18 and 880 (HD), StratusIQ channel 99 (streaming), and on the Colorado Springs City Council Facebook page.

Last Thursday's markup session capped a busy week of Budget-related business for City Council. On Monday, residents shared their feedback on the proposed 2027 Budget to City Council during a town hall meeting. They raised questions about funding for the Colorado Springs Police and Fire Departments, as well as parks funding.

On Tuesday, City Council approved an ordinance modifying the current-year City Budget to address mandatory furloughs. In an 8-1 vote, City Council provided furlough-eligible City employees with a paid day off on November 25, recognizing the sacrifices they have already made over four to six furlough days, depending on job classification, this year. After City revenues exceeded projections, the Mobolade Administration proposed canceling the final furlough day of the year while requiring employees to either report to work or use accrued leave if they wanted the day off. City Council amended the proposal to close most City offices on November 25 and provide furlough-eligible employees with a paid day off without requiring the use of accrued leave. The Mayor signed the ordinance.