|
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.
-
If you haven’t voted yet, and have questions about ranked-choice voting, we have an educational video for you.
-
Information has been published letting you know the amount of your TABOR refund. Any dollar you can keep out of the hands of the government is well worth it.
-
TABOR refunds will be less than they were in 2025 and even lower in the years ahead. Politicians blame a softening economy, not the enormous growth in government that feeds off of taxpayers.
-
As expected, the TABOR lawsuit against the 2C pothole tax was immediately dismissed.
-
Some of our readers are asking where we got our calculations demonstrating that roads are only seeing a fraction of the 2C pothole tax dollars. Roads definitely were the priority from 2016-2019. Quarterly totals from 2020-2023 determine that only 1/3 of the sales tax is going toward potholes and paving. The majority is going toward concrete- sidewalks, curbs, and gutters.
-
Some of your TABOR refund dollars will be distributed to the poor in the form of government programs. They think they know best who deserves your money.
-
Our friends at Complete Colorado have compiled all the current election guides into one page for you.
-
Proposition JJ, on your November ballot, would allow the state to increase the amount of tax revenue they keep from sports betting. Does the state government really need more money from people?
-
President Joe Biden abused his constitutional powers again and forgave around $6 billion in student loans. This ploy for votes will merely burden taxpayers more. He has also arbitrarily suspended payments for around 8 million borrowers.
-
Xcel Energy is mandated by state law to reduce emissions dramatically. This will involve shutting down cheap, reliable fossil fuel plants, and may also involve nuclear energy.
-
Also in energy news this week, when can we expect threats of brownouts and blackouts from Colorado Springs Utilities unless they get their way? Now, that’s when. Colorado Springs Utilities is also threatening to charge you more for electricity usage depending on the time of day. Some people in the know are recommending citizens look into buying generators, which probably isn’t a bad idea considering the path we are being forced down by Jared Polis’ “green energy” fantasy.
-
CSU is also planning to raise your rates to fund capital projects, specifically water infrastructure, to support growth.
-
In case you were wondering, you are still being forced to help fund the purchase of boutique electric vehicles and e-bikes for people.
-
Colorado Springs City Council voted to waive future tax payments for the developer of a newly approved “affordable housing” complex downtown. At the same time, they will be raising your utility rates and asking you to vote to tax yourselves for pothole repairs. Some taxpayers are more equal than others in Colorado Springs.
-
Some new voter polling centers have been opened in El Paso County to assist citizens for the November election.
-
Colorado Springs City Council is seeking to fill one volunteer position on the Law Enforcement Transparency and Advisory Committee.
-
El Paso County Commissioner Carrie Geitner has been appointed to the commission chair position. This comes after current chair, Cami Bremer, announced she would be leaving for a new role as CEO of Pikes Peak United Way.
-
El Paso County Sheriff Joseph Roybal is asking for an additional $600,000 in funding for his department.
-
The Southeast Strong Community Plan intends to encourage growth in the southeast part of Colorado Springs. You are welcome to contribute to their survey.
-
Long-time El Paso County Coroner Dr. Leon Kelly has announced his retirement, effective at the end of the year. We wish Dr. Kelly well in his future pursuits.
-
A taxpayer-funded non-profit that helps low-income people purchase homes at a discount is requiring that people who use their services vote in the election in order to participate in the program. Is this legal?
-
Colorado ranks in the bottom 10 safest states, according to one study. Remember when Colorado was known for things we could be proud of?
-
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.
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
Tuesday, October 29, 1:00 p.m.
Colorado Springs City Council Work Session - 2025 Budget Markup Session
107 N. Nevada, 3rd floor
Live stream link here
Agenda not yet posted
Tuesday, November 12, 10:00 a.m.
Colorado Springs City Council
107 N. Nevada, 3rd floor
Live stream link here
Agenda not yet posted
Tuesday, November 12, 1:00 p.m.
Colorado Springs City Council
107 N. Nevada, 3rd floor
Live stream link here
Agenda not yet posted
El Paso County Board of County Commissioner Meetings
Tuesday, October 29, 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, November 5, 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, November 20, 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
Tuesday, October 29, 6:00 p.m.
Independence Institute Citizen’s Guide to Civic Involvement
Online via Zoom
Information and Agenda
Monday, November 4, 5:00 p.m.
Law Enforcement Transparency and Advisory Committee
City Hall
107 S. Nevada Avenue, Suite 200
Also, online via Microsoft Teams
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 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 Mayors 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
| 
