In a decisive 7–2 vote Tuesday, the Colorado Springs City Council officially approved the 2026 municipal budget, ushering in a year of significant austerity for city operations while prioritizing police and fire departments amidst a financial storm. The approved General Fund stands at $427.3 million, a marked $11 million decrease from the 2025 budget. Facing a projected revenue shortfall driven by economic softening, sluggish sales tax numbers, and TABOR refund obligations, the city has enacted $31 million in cuts to balance the books.

The budget passed with the support of the majority, who aligned with Mayor Yemi Mobolade’s “core services” approach. Voting against the measure were Councilmembers Brian Risley and Lynette Crow-Iverson. While the dissenting votes were cast without extensive comment during the final session, both councilmembers have previously expressed concerns regarding the city’s revenue projections, noting apprehension that the assumed 1.4 percent growth rate may still be too optimistic given the current economic climate.

The 2026 budget draws a stark line between essential public safety and other city services, effectively shielding emergency responders from the cuts that will impact nearly every other department. Mayor Mobolade fulfilled his promise to prioritize emergency response, ensuring that public safety agencies see funding increases despite the city-wide deficit. The police department’s budget rises by $6.8 million, while the fire department receives an increase of approximately $628,000. For the first time, revenue from the city’s recreational marijuana sales tax—projected at $3.9 million—will be funneled directly into public safety operations, with an additional $200,000 earmarked for mental health services for veterans. Sworn officer and firefighter positions are fully funded and exempt from the workforce reductions hitting other departments.

To pay for the public safety shield and cover the deficit, deep cuts were made elsewhere, impacting city amenities and the civilian workforce. The Meadows Park Community Center will officially close, a move projected to save the city roughly $775,000 annually but one that leaves a gap in the Stratton Meadows neighborhood. The city is eliminating approximately 34 to 38 civilian positions, roughly 1 percent of its workforce, while most civilian employees will face five unpaid furlough days in 2026. Higher earners making over $72,000 will take seven furlough days, and there will be no cost-of-living or performance-based raises for civilian employees next year. Residents should expect a visible decline in park aesthetics, as the budget mandates reduced mowing schedules for neighborhood parks, along with cuts to security services and portable restroom maintenance.

Two main factors drove this belt-tightening budget. Sales tax, which comprises more than half of the city’s General Fund, came in significantly lower than officials hoped, signaling that Colorado Springs consumers are tightening their own belts. TABOR refund requirements further restricted how much revenue the city could retain, with property tax revenue available for the General Fund expected to be $2 million lower than 2025 projections.

For the average Colorado Springs resident, the impact will be mixed. Emergency response times—particularly for 911 calls—are expected to hold steady or improve. However, the trade-off will be visible in the community’s shared spaces: longer grass in local parks, the shuttered doors of the Meadows Park Community Center, and potentially slower service times for non-emergency city functions like permit processing or pothole reporting due to staff furloughs. Mayor Mobolade characterized the budget as an exercise in fiscal stewardship, stating, “We are making strategic investments in the core services that strengthen our community”.