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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.
This week’s newsletter is sponsored by Armi and Joni Hall. Thank you to the Halls! We appreciate their support of our mission!
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You’ll likely recall that recently, Springs Taxpayers United published an original article discussing the pay increase for Colorado Springs Utilities CEO Travas Deal. Local news outlet KOAA recently requested the pay study cited by the Colorado Springs City Council as the reason Mr. Deal needed a pay increase. What KOAA learned is that this pay study is not public information. Isn’t that interesting?
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We've confirmed a rumor we heard during Monday’s City Council Work Session that City of Colorado Springs Operations and Maintenance Division Manager Corey Farkas is no longer employed with the City of Colorado Springs. Farkas was the head honcho for potholes and other street issues. We will pass along further details as they become available. No other media is covering this story.
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Would it surprise you to learn that there is Medicaid fraud in Colorado? It has recently been discovered that homeless people are being exploited to funnel other homeless people, and thus Medicaid dollars, to one Aurora-based business that provides limited medical treatment to street people. We’re certain that this is just the tip of the fraud iceberg in Colorado.
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Xcel Energy residential customers may see the largest electric rate increases in Colorado history. Remember, the Polis green energy push is only in the early stages.
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The race is on in Colorado to gather signatures for petitions for ballot measures ahead of the August 3 deadline. Some of these potential ballot measures are good, others are not.
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In the first 5 months of 2026, there were over 7,000 burglaries reported in Colorado. Denver, Colorado Springs, and Aurora were the top three locations for burglaries.
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Between 2021 and 2024, over 137,000 people migrated to Colorado. Almost 84% of them came from outside the United States. Do you think this was organic, or organized and paid for with your tax dollars?
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Cigna is opting out of the individual medical insurance market around the country. That means that more than 40,000 people in Colorado will need to shop for a new insurance provider.
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In their latest report, Advance Colorado details how a ballot measure, pushed forward by the legislature this year, would eliminate your TABOR refunds forever. Instead of being responsible stewards of taxpayer money, Colorado government always schemes to take more from taxpayers.
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This article details a breakdown of property taxes in El Paso County. The article shows where your property tax money goes, the consequences for homeowners who agree to de-TABOR, and how many people have their hands out begging for the property taxes you pay.
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A new proposed Coca-Cola plant on the east side of Colorado Springs could use up 1.5 million gallons of water per day, according to a recent report. We understand jobs and economic growth are important, but does this make sense when we often experience water shortages here?
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Two Colorado Springs City Councilmembers have formed a committee to sort through all the issues surrounding resource allocation for emergency responders in the city. These meetings will be strictly internal, as public servants wanted to be able to speak freely. Their findings will be publicly released at a later date. Will this mean a tax increase request for the November ballot?
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Governor Polis will allocate taxpayer money to several “affordable” housing developments in Colorado Springs. Housing is always affordable if taxpayers are paying for it.
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Advocates for illegal immigrants are upset that federal immigration authorities are tracking several minors who entered the country illegally, but are now in foster care in El Paso County.
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Here’s something you don’t hear every day. Residents in one Boulder neighborhood could be forced to pay $90,000 each for a street renovation project there. As it turns out, some neighbors signed agreements in the 1980s and 1990s obligating them to pay for projects just like this.
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Denver will hold a raffle to provide taxpayer-funded gift cards to people who commute without an automobile twice per week.
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Longmont City Council has voted to place energy and water consumption restrictions on any data centers built in the city.
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Watch your mailbox. Your primary ballot will be sent to you this week.
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Pothole repair season in Colorado Springs is underway. City officials state that they have filled 6,000 potholes in just the last two weeks.
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We attended and recorded the recent City Council District 1 town hall with Dave Donelson. Corey Farkas attended too, but this occurred prior to his release from city employment. Make sure to check it out!
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We also attended and recorded a town hall with the at-large city council representatives. It was hosted by a group called Braver Angels, and the main topic was political polarization. We apologize for the sound quality. The venue had very loud fans running.
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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.
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You can also support Springs Taxpayers United when you shop. 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
Tuesday, June 22, 9:00 a.m. – THIS MEETING HAS BEEN CANCELED
Colorado Springs City Council Work Session
107 N. Nevada, 3rd floor
Live stream link here
Agenda not yet posted
Tuesday, June 23, 9:00 a.m. – THIS MEETING HAS BEEN CANCELED
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, June 16, 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, June 23, 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, June 17, 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
Friday, June 26, 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 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 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
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