Colorado Springs: City Council champions public safety, parks in 2027 budget amendments

~ Colorado Springs City Council advanced several proposed amendments to the city's 2027 budget, including additional funding for police and fire compensation and parks maintenance.

At a budget markup session on Oct. 29, council members advanced a proposal to increase compensation for sworn members of the Colorado Springs Police and Fire departments by an additional 1%. They also agreed to buy cardiac monitors for the Fire Department outright rather than through a proposed lease-purchase program, which the city says would avoid financing costs over eight years.

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

To help offset the spending, council proposed allocating about $163,000 to the Finance Department for two sales tax enforcement positions. The city anticipates the positions would generate $1.5 million in additional sales tax revenue next year.

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Other proposed changes include moving nearly $138,000 from the City Attorney's Office to a separate General Costs account for legal services for council. Council is also considering ending a temporary property-tax mill levy credit, with the resulting revenue directed to a reserve account restricted under the Taxpayer's Bill of Rights, or TABOR.

Mayor Yemi Mobolade submitted his proposed 2027 budget to council on Oct. 5. Under the City Charter, council reviews the proposal and adopts the budget, with or without amendments.

The first reading and vote on the budget ordinance is scheduled for 9 a.m. Nov. 10, with a second reading and vote set for 9 a.m. Nov. 24. Both meetings are scheduled in City Council Chambers at City Hall, 107 North Nevada Ave., and will be open to the public. They will also be broadcast on Springs TV, Comcast channels 18 and 880, StratusIQ channel 99 and the City Council Facebook page.

The markup session followed a week of budget-related business. Residents raised questions about police, fire and parks funding at a town hall on Oct. 26.

On Oct. 27, council voted 8-1 to amend the current-year budget and give furlough-eligible city employees a paid day off on Nov. 25. The change followed an administration proposal to cancel the final furlough day of the year but require employees to work or use accrued leave to take the day off. Under council's amendment, most city offices will close and eligible employees will not have to use accrued leave. Mobolade signed the ordinance.

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