|
Here are some of the stories we are following this week. Connect with us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram for up-to-the-minute news.
-
Colorado lawmakers irresponsibly spent COVID funds to expand government by creating new programs. Now that COVID emergency funds are no more, they have saddled taxpayers with a $1 billion deficit. Their solution is to butcher our TABOR protections. Watch our original video of comments about how we've landed in this spot.
-
In the time Jared Polis has been governor of Colorado, the budget for our state has risen from $29 billion in 2018, to $51 billion today. Every issue is now a dire crisis that can only be solved by you paying more and more to the government. In doing that, they have whittled away at your TABOR refunds. This has been an intentional, coordinated, malicious attack on your TABOR protections.
-
Colorado is quickly becoming a state that chases businesses away. More than 200 business leaders who haven’t left yet delivered a letter to Colorado politicians letting them know that regulations from a government that’s hostile to business has dire consequences.
-
In response to this letter, Governor Polis blamed the citizen initiative process for part of the “…lack of predictability…” of the regulatory environment in Colorado. He also blamed President Trump. Governor, it could be that the responsibility lies with the 2,500 new laws passed by a radical, business-hating legislature and signed by you in the past 5 years.
-
In related news, a recent jobs report in Colorado shows that the state lost 11,000 jobs over the past year. Around 4,000 of those jobs were government jobs, so the news isn’t all bad.
-
Speaking of state regulations that drive up costs, the state is cracking down on landfill methane emissions. The unelected and unaccountable Colorado Air Quality Commission has created this new rule, which will most certainly increase costs for counties, and thus businesses and other taxpayers.
-
A bill is being proposed in the legislature that would allow various local governments to band together to address vagrancy in their communities. This would also allow these organized communities to levy a tax for managing vagrants.
-
The legislature is also working on a bill that would transfer funds from the School Meals for All program to the state education fund. This is to repay the state education fund for funds taken to fund the school meals program in 2023 and 2024. This bill also repeals the requirement to report the amount of money in the school meals fund. Why would they want to stop reporting on how much of your money they have in that fund?
-
The legislature is also hard at work trying to see how it can meddle even more in housing markets in the state. They are doing this under the guise of making home ownership more affordable.
-
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is asking for public comment about the Colorado Wolf Reintroduction Program. Comments will be accepted until June 5th. Let them know what you think.
-
Manitou Springs has implemented Level 1 water restrictions. Residents can only water their lawns on certain days based on even and odd numbered addresses.
-
Several other localities around the state have implemented water restrictions. Here’s a list if you need more information.
-
Lakewood voters soundly defeated a proposed ordinance that would mandate infill in their city. It turns out that quality of life matters to taxpayers.
-
Union members at Denver Public Schools are planning to send a tax increase to voters in November. The funny thing is, enrollment in Denver Public Schools has been declining.
-
About one month ago, Colorado Springs Utilities approved rate reductions for both natural gas and electricity. Today, they approved a rate increase for natural gas. Is this some kind of experiment from someone with a Master’s in Public Administration to keep the customers on their heels or something?
-
One local media outlet sat down with Mayor Yemi Mobolade and his new Chief of Staff Wayne Williams to dig into why they are working together now. Do you suspect they are planning something? Maybe a tax increase?
-
District 3 City Councilwoman Brandy Williams held a town hall on April 9, which we recorded for you. In that meeting there was an awful lot of complaining about the city government not having enough of your money.
-
The Law Enforcement Transparency and Advisory Commission has been officially dissolved by Colorado Springs City Council.
-
Around $3 million in federal and state taxpayer-funded grants will possibly be used to rehabilitate the Acacia Park bandshell. Do you think this is an appropriate use of your taxpayer dollars?
-
If you would like to help support us in our mission as government watchdogs by becoming a Newsletter Sponsor, we are offering two sponsorships for each weekly newsletter, at the nominal cost of $100 each. Funds raised from these sponsorship opportunities will help us to keep looking out for taxpayers.
-
Thank you to all who registered for the Skirted Heifer/Bambinos gift card. Jennifer A. is the lucky winner! You can support Springs Taxpayers United when you shop, just like Jennifer A. did. Springs Taxpayers United is now enrolled with the King Soopers Community Rewards Program. You can link your SooperCard to us by logging into your account and designating Springs Taxpayers United (SW470) as the recipient of the community reward for your King Soopers card. Thanks for your support!
Here are some upcoming meetings in the area. We hope you can attend one or more!
If there are other public meetings you’d like to see announced here, please drop us a line. We are happy to include them in an upcoming newsletter. These might be government-related, candidate, or elected official meetings. Thanks!
Colorado Springs City Council Meetings
Monday, April 27, 9:00 a.m.
Colorado Springs City Council Work Session
107 N. Nevada, 3rd floor
Live stream link here
Agenda not yet posted
Tuesday, April 28, 9:00 a.m.
Colorado Springs City Council
107 N. Nevada, 3rd floor
Live stream link here
Agenda not yet posted
El Paso County Board of County Commissioners Meetings
Tuesday, April 21, 9:00 a.m.
El Paso County Board of County Commissioners
Centennial Hall
200 S. Cascade
Live stream link here
Agenda not yet posted
Tuesday, April 28, 9:00 a.m.
El Paso County Board of County Commissioners
Centennial Hall
200 S. Cascade
Live stream link here
Agenda not yet posted
Colorado Springs Utilities Board of Directors
Wednesday, April 22, 1:00 p.m.
Utilities Board of Directors
Blue River Board Room
Plaza of the Rockies, South Tower, 5th Floor
Live stream link here
Agenda not yet posted
Miscellaneous Meetings of Interest
Wednesday, May 6, 5:30 p.m.
Pikes Peak Library District Palmer Lake Library Town Hall
42 Valley Crescent St
Information and Agenda
Monday, May 11, 10:30 a.m.
Pikes Peak Library District Ute Pass Library Town Hall
Marcroft Hall
9105 Chipita Park Rd.
Information and Agenda
Wednesday, May 13, 5:30 p.m.
Pikes Peak Library District Calhan Library Town Hall
Calhan Town Hall Facility
556 Colorado Avenue
Information and Agenda
View the full Colorado Springs City Council meeting schedule here to see upcoming meetings.
View the full Board of El Paso County Commissioners meeting schedule here to see upcoming meetings.
View the full Colorado Springs Utilities Board meeting schedule here to see upcoming meetings. Please also follow CSU on social media at their Facebook Page and on Twitter.
Don't forget to subscribe to our YouTube Channel. Since most of the City and County board and commission meetings are not televised or recorded, we are trying to remedy that. We now have a camera and a tripod for volunteers to check out for future meetings.
If you have a tip about a story in the Pikes Peak region that you aren’t seeing reported, let us know. We will see what we can find out.
How to Contact City and County Officials:
City Hall
107 N. Nevada Avenue
Colorado Springs, CO 80903
(719) 385-5986
Contact City Council
Mayor's Office
30 S Nevada Avenue, Suite 601
Colorado Springs, CO 80901
(719) 385-5900
Contact the Mayor's Office
County Commissioners
200 South Cascade Avenue, Suite 100
Colorado Springs, CO 80903-2202
Phone: (719) 520-7276
https://www.elpasoco.com/contact-us/
Thank you!
Rebecca
| 
