Mayor releases balanced Colorado Springs budget to City Council for next year

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (KRDO) -- On Monday morning, Mayor John Suthers presented the City Council with his version of a balanced budget for 2021.

The total projected general fund budget is nearly $349 million, an increase of 5.3% over this year.

According to a release from the city, most of the increase is because of re-budgeting $20 million in savings generated by federal COVID-19 relief funding through the CARES Act.

"We saved $20 million with hiring freezes and hiring delays," Suthers said. "Every city department took a 20% cut. We also received $37 million in CARES act funding. Some of those savings carry over into next year."

The release states that Suthers allocated budgetary funds to meet goals of the city's strategic plan -- which promotes creating new jobs, investing in infrastructure, strengthening community relationships and maintaining a high level of city services.

The City Council will hold its first discussion on the budget in two weeks.

Among the highlights of the 2021 budget:

·                  $2.0 million of increased funding for 10 new sworn Police positions and 8 new sworn Fire positions and equipment, including re-establishing a dedicated Hazardous Materials response team and the transition of a medical squad to an engine company for the Fire Department.

·                  $400,000 of increased funding for park maintenance.

·                  $1.7 million continued funding for the City’s Americans with Disabilities Act operating and capital programs.

·                  $1,000,000 of increased funding for city fleet and equipment replacement.

·                  $500,000 of continued funding to support shelter bed operations for the homeless population.

·                  $760,000 increased funding to Mountain Metro Transit, including a route to the Airport and Amazon to be established in the 2nd half of 2021.

·                  $1.6 million continuing support to address Information Technology core infrastructure, applications, and cybersecurity improvements and sustainment.

·                  $2.0 million for Police and Fire sworn step increases, pay progression for civilian employees, and full-year funding for the portion of compensation that was phased in during 2020.

·                  $650,000 increased operating and capital funding for snow/ice removal operations.

·                  $2.2 million for critical facility maintenance - spread across the City’s many facilities including police and fire stations, parks facilities, public works facilities, and fuel infrastructure.

·                  $500,000 increased funding for city-wide Capital Improvement Projects.

·                  $850,000 increased funding for the state-mandated 811 utility locate team.

"This 2021 budget is a best guess, if you will, and it kind of assumes that things will continue at the pace they're at right now," Suthers said. "If they don't, we'll have to make more cuts. But the good thing is we haven't had layoffs or furloughs for our employees."

Here is the upcoming 2021 budget review schedule:

Oct. 20	City Council Budget Work Session
Oct. 26	Budget Public Hearing and Town Hall
Nov 6	Budget Markup Session with City Council
Nov 24	First reading of 2021 Budget Ordinance at City Council
Dec 8	Second reading of 2021 Budget Ordinance at City Council