|
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.
-
So far, there have been two town hall meetings featuring at-large Colorado Springs City Councilmembers teaming up with the nonprofit Braver Angels organization. Each meeting focused on political polarization among the citizenry. However, we believe these folks are seriously misreading the true nature of political polarization in Colorado Springs. Read all about it in our latest original article.
-
This original in-depth editorial analysis would not be possible without the generosity of our subscribers. We at Springs Taxpayers United thank you for your support, and we are always grateful for any additional support you can provide. Thank you for supporting us in our mission.
-
The Colorado Public Utilities Commission has approved an electric rate increase for Xcel Energy customers. The average bill will increase by $5 per month, or $60 per year.
-
Between the scorching temperatures this summer and the Energy Wise rates, Colorado Springs Utilities is seeing record revenues. Given the political climate around energy in Colorado, we can expect to see a lot more revenue records set in the future.
-
A Denver judge has ruled that the City of Denver is well within its rights to ban natural gas appliances. We suspect we will see more infringements on personal liberty in Colorado as they push us all toward electrification. Needless to say, it is not the proper role of government nannycrats to dictate how you cook. This November, voters will have the opportunity to put a right to natural gas in the Colorado Constitution.
-
Voters will be able to vote to enshrine the right to hunt and fish into the Colorado Constitution. This is a response to the enthusiastic encroachment of hunting and fishing by the radicals appointed to the Colorado Wildlife Commission by Governor Jared Polis.
-
Colorado government officials, including Governor Jared Polis, are going around bragging about how well Colorado public education students are doing, and how much they are improving. This is shameless spin in support of Proposition NN, the upcoming ballot initiative to raise your taxes for even more school funding and end your TABOR protections forever.
-
The Douglas County Board of Education is joining in on the statewide stampede of school districts asking for more money from taxpayers. They will ask voters for $54 million this November.
-
A federal judge has partially blocked a Colorado law that unfairly burdens one illegal immigrant detention center in the state. This law intentionally singled out a specific federal detention contractor that has been attacked by radical legislators for quite some time.
-
On a related subject, one Venezuelan illegal alien gang member has been sentenced to three years in a Colorado prison following a violent assault in 2025. Three of his gang-member pals are still at large.
-
Colorado taxpayers, many of whom struggle to pay monthly bills, are being forced to subsidize other people’s purchase of electric bicycles. This $1,000-per-purchase rebate program is an extravagance taxpayers should not be forced to pay and is a symptom of a state government whose arrogance is running amok.
-
Taxpayers in Denver are paying $800 per hour for attorneys outside of city government. Denver has 160 internal lawyers who don’t cost this much, so, as usual, something fishy is going on in Toilet City.
-
The City of Denver renovated the 16th Street Mall in 2022, and budgeted $175 million for the project. This cost will increase, however. Prior to starting the project, city officials failed to map historic sewer lines under the area, so the project took longer and cost more than budgeted.
-
Denver recently pulled the plug on their online parking ticket dispute system, citing budget cuts. Some who have received tickets in error are now experiencing just how malicious and corrupt Denver government can be.
-
A recent state audit finds that several special taxing districts charge taxpayers plenty, yet these districts still can’t pay principal and interest on bond payments they are required to pay.
-
Initiative 195, the attempt to create a progressive income tax schedule in the state, is sure to have devastating impacts on taxpayers far into the future if it passes. The marketing around this is to “get the rich.” The long-term plan is to come for everyone. Eventually, you will become “the rich” too.
-
Meta, the parent company of Facebook, Instagram, etc., was sued by 29 states, including Colorado, for social media harms to children. Meta settled this week, and the Colorado share of the lawfare winnings is $615 million. How do you think they’ll waste it?
-
Some Aurora City Council representatives are opposing a ballot initiative that would make any amount of fentanyl possession a felony. The reasonable councilmembers who are sick of all the fentanyl deaths support this initiative.
-
The CEO of Buc-ee’s states that he may be finished with attempts to expand to blue states. Arch "Beaver" Aplin III states that it’s pointless to attempt to build locations in states and localities that would not appreciate what Buc-ee’s has to offer.
-
El Paso County Commissioners will debate this week on whether or not a proposed Buc-ee’s location can be classified as a convenience store under existing zoning codes. It’s anyone’s guess as to how this contentious issue will be settled.
-
The Mayor of Monument, Colorado, Mitch LaKind, will not run for reelection. He is moving on for personal reasons.
-
Monsoon season is here. The Colorado Springs Fire Department has lifted the burn ban that has been in place since late June and has downgraded the burn ban to burn restrictions. Additionally, Pueblo County and El Paso County have also downgraded strict fire restrictions.
-
The Denver Board of Water Commissioners decreed that all lawn sprinklers must be turned off starting October 1.
-
New rules are being negotiated for how Colorado River water will be used in the future. Will the final rules impact Colorado Springs Utilities customers?
-
A petition is being circulated in Colorado Springs to remove Colorado Springs Utilities CEO Travas Deal. Many residents are struggling to pay their ever-increasing utility bills, which has inspired this signature-gathering effort.
-
Rate increases are likely coming early next year for Colorado Springs Utilities customers who participate in the solar net metering program.
-
Pueblo City Council has passed a resolution that charges stores for abandoned carts left around the Steel City. These carts, of course, are stolen and abandoned by street people. This is the fault of the vagrants, but they are not a source of revenue. So, the stores are charged, and this cost gets passed along to customers, raising the overall cost of living for them.
-
Pueblo City Council approved one of four potential sales tax measures for the November ballot. A ballot measure to fund public safety infrastructure was advanced by council members.
-
One vagrant in the Denver metro area spends a considerable amount of time destroying other people’s property. He’s thrown rocks through numerous windows and destroyed a garden and even a beehive. Turns out, after previous incidents, he was judged incompetent to stand trial. Under Colorado law, that means he’s turned loose on the public.
-
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.
-
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, September 8, 9:00 a.m.
Colorado Springs City Council Work Session
107 N. Nevada, 3rd floor
Live stream link here
Agenda not yet posted
Tuesday, September 8, 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, 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
Tuesday, September 8, 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, September 16, 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, September 25, 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
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
| 
