Some cuts spared, most cuts remain in Springs
Posted : Nov 10, 2009 5:12 PM
Updated: Nov 11, 2009 3:45 AM
Colorado Springs' 2010 budget is closer to being set in stone. The city has to cut $29.4 million from next year's budget to be balanced.
That means, every department will feel the impact.
Some of the proposed cuts include:
- 125 layoffs citywide
- 10-day furlough for civilian employees
- $4 million from Police Department, including eliminating 40 police officer positions
- $1.4 million from Fire Department, including eliminating 11 firefighter positions
- $8.5 million from Parks, Recreational and Cultural services, including closing city pools, the Pioneers Museum at the beginning of the year, and closing all community centers, Rock Ledge Ranch, &Starsmore Discovery Center by April 1, 2010
- $6.1 million from Transit, including eliminating city-funded routes
Colorado Springs City Councilmembers will meet again on November 24 for the first reading of the budget.
You can read details about the budget on the City of Colorado Springs budget web page.
Blue2010 at Nov 10th 2009 8:25 PM
Thanks to everyone that opposed 2C, this community will continue to deteriorate! I found the gloating humerous when 2C was defeated, but I thought that you all would take charge and offer constructive advice to mend the city budget. Not at all, none of you have any idea on how to mend a budget. You are just cheap and don't want to pay for a better community. How do you feel now? For about eighteen hours you all were gloating once again, saying that the city was using scare tactics. Do your homework before you make stupid comments like that. Even though many police and fire positions will be lost through attrition, none of those positions will be replaced. NONE OF THEM! Plus 125 layoffs city wide, plus furloughs, plus transit system cuts which will cause more job losses which causes less spending. If you aren't aware, less spending is a bad thing for the local economy. I can't wait to hear all of you gloat over the fact that there will be more people losing their jobs! If you are anti government, move away, far away! It will be a nice touch to have half of our city street lights shut down as well, which will lead to more crime. But don't worry about that, you saved a few bucks on your property taxes. By the way...more crime and less cops? You do the math! Oh, I forgot, you probably can't add, because if you could, you would have voted yes on 2C. Thanks again for a stupid decision.
speak out at Nov 10th 2009 11:14 PM
most of what you said is true but for the most part not everyone is stupid. If you havent noticed all the high rate of unemployment,and bankruptcy going on that makes you very stupid. You cant just assume the people are just being cheap in all reality they cant afford it without it causing more homeless situations leading to more government assist cases. If you really want to point the finger at someone point it at our great government and there great decision on bailouts. Or maybe point the finger at all the people who have the most rediculous mounts,and mounts,and mounts of money that could do sum good for the world i think how us middle and low class keep getting kicked while were down is very rude and unfair.
Native at Nov 11th 2009 12:11 AM
I am glad that we can pay City Council members over 100 grand a year to work part-time, but we can go without street lights. Does this seems logical? Maybe we should make budget cuts where we need to, and keep our local Fire and Police Officers employed! Maybe if Lionel Rivera hadn't spent all the city's money on the Olympic Training Center, we might have money to pay the men and women that protect our community!
Blue2010 at Nov 11th 2009 12:59 AM
Speak Out,
I didn't mention...I have been unemployed since January. No bias here, I just want to live in a good community and maintain the VALUE of my home. I didn't say everyone was stupid...only the ones that voted against maintaining the quality of life and maintaining property values here in the springs. The property tax increase was very minimal and I hope that most would rebound by the time their taxes would go up in five years. I am hopeful that I will have a little bit more to spend in five years. I would only go up around $150 next year and would max out at around $400 in the next five years. Still very inexpensive for the quality of life that I want. I hope you are a homeowner instead of some of the idiots that don't own homes and voted against this. Those are the idiots that i am referring to.
Justwondering at Nov 11th 2009 7:36 AM
The defeat of 2C is indicative of the voters' lack of trust in city government. When the mayor and city council begin to understand what they owe their constituents--intelligent leadership and foresight-- then there may be some hope for progress.