Competing Tax Measures, More Money for Failing Schools, Denver Police Budget Issues, and More!

August 7, 2026

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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.

The budget cuts in Denver have impacted the Denver Police Department. The department is currently unable to fill critical civilian jobs and, in some cases, can’t repair police vehicles. However, as far as we know, illegal alien and vagrant services are still fully funded in Denver.

One survey is reporting that Denver is one of the nation’s riskiest places to vacation. Of all the cities in the nation, Denver ranks 4^th in highest risk vacation spots for property and other crimes. Well done, Toilet City.

Having solved all the other problems, Denver City Council is seriously considering drafting a statement acknowledging the forced labor of slaves in America. If this idea becomes policy, this statement would be read before every city council meeting. This is likely the first step toward proposed taxpayer reparations for slavery.

Denver had an ambitious goal of cutting water usage by 20% to offset the drought conditions in the state. Usage is only down 5%, however, despite over 4,700 citizen reports of overwatering.

Colorado is being sued for its forced recycling program. The New Civil Liberties Alliance states that the program violates both the 1^st and 14^th Amendments. This program was signed into law by Governor Polis in 2022. You may recall that we reported on the recycling program a few months ago.

Jefferson County School District may ask voters for more money even though school enrollment is declining steadily year after year. It’s clearly expensive to teach an ever-dwindling group of students in Jeffco inadequately.

The administrators of the SNAP program in Colorado make a lot of errors. That’s okay for them, though, as taxpayers are stuck with the bill.

The rising cost of living in Colorado is draining the wallets of homeowners and other taxpayers. Only 40% of current residents would recommend Colorado as a place to buy a house and build a life.

A recent count shows that around 98 companies and 14,000 jobs have fled Colorado. This is clearly unsustainable, but does anyone in state government seem concerned?

Also in cost-of-living news this week, it looks like Colorado voters may get to vote on creating a progressive income tax structure this November. Enough signatures were turned in for this ballot measure this week. The measure, if passed, would change the current flat income tax into a 6-bracket income tax.

Colorado voters may have the ability to vote on two competing tax measures this November. The one outlined above would turn Colorado further into California. Another one would make it illegal to raise the state income tax above the current 4.4% flat tax. We know which one we will choose if these measures are on the ballot.

The open meetings law in Colorado forbids the use of secret ballots by government bodies. Why then are Greeley and Bayfield using secret ballots to make public decisions?

Colorado public school enrollment has been dropping steadily since 2022. Projections show many school districts will lose more students this year. Despite that, the state has advanced a measure that would end your TABOR protections forever to fund schools. Should voters increase funding for an underperforming education system?

Colorado Springs School District 11 will ask taxpayers for more money this November. The District Board voted for a ballot measure asking taxpayers for $775 million to fund school repairs.

School District 49 officials this week informed parents of students that there should be no major changes despite last year’s staff reductions. These reductions came after administrators made a $2 million budget error during the last school year.

The Old Colorado City Downtown Development Authority (OCCDDA) may be dissolved by Colorado Springs City Council less than two years after it was formed. It seems the OCCDDA hasn’t really done anything for nearly two years. City Council wants to dissolve it due to 17 businesses being wrongfully included in the Downtown Development.

The Emerald Ash Borer is a beetle that kills trees, and it is now being found in Colorado Springs. This infestation could threaten 20% of all trees in the city.

Two appeals have been filed to review the Project Taurus data center proposal in Colorado Springs. These appeals will now be reviewed by city council.

El Paso County residents will be voting on whether or not to extend the county’s public safety sales tax. This issue will be on the November ballot.

In Monument, Colorado, the Town Council asked the County Commissioners to reject the effort to classify a potential Buc-ee’s as a convenience store. Some in Monument really, really don’t want to see a Buc-ee’s built.

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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, August 10, 9:00 a.m.

Colorado Springs City Council Work Session

107 N. Nevada, 3rd floor

Live stream link here

Agenda

Tuesday, August 11, 9:00 a.m.

Colorado Springs City Council

107 N. Nevada, 3rd floor

Live stream link here

Agenda

El Paso County Board of County Commissioners Meetings

Tuesday, August 25, 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, September 1, 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, August 19, 1:00 p.m.

Utilities Board of Directors

Blue River Board Room

Plaza of the Rockies, South Tower, 5^th Floor

Live stream link here

Agenda not yet posted

Miscellaneous Meetings of Interest

Friday, August 28, 9:00 a.m.

Front Range Passenger Rail Board of Directors Meeting

Online Meeting - Registration Required

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 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 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