Voters to decide fate of $4.75 million TABOR retention for new Colorado Springs Police Academy

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (KRDO) -- In November, Colorado Springs voters will decide whether or not $4.75 million of the Taxpayer's Bill of Rights (TABOR) retention funds will go toward a new Colorado Springs Police Academy.

On Tuesday, the Colorado Springs City Council voted 7-1 (Councilman Mike O'Malley was absent) to place a TABOR retention item on the November ballot. When voters receive their ballot, the question will read:

“Without imposing any new tax or increasing the rate of any existing tax, shall the City of Colorado Springs be permitted to: Retain and spend $4,750,000 of city revenues received in fiscal year 2022 above the 2022 revenue and spending limitations, for acquiring property, planning, construction, and equipping a training facility for the Colorado Springs Police Department.”

The ballot language makes no mention of TABOR, which limits the amount of revenue the state and municipalities can retain and spend. But TABOR is the essence of this ballot initiative. In this instance, the City of Colorado Springs must get voter approval to retain more revenue than what is allowed.

The use of TABOR funds for the police academy was the main reason Councilman Dave Donelson voted against the initiative.

“Right now in Colorado, the citizens’ TABOR refunds are under attack, at the state level and now here in the city also,” Donelson said. “That is money that citizens have overpaid and they're entitled to get it back unless there is a good reason that the city should keep it.”

However, Colorado Springs Mayor Yemi Mobolade said the new police academy is the best use of the TABOR funds, as he said public safety was the main concern among residents during his mayoral campaign.

“I'm asking our residents to make this investment in something that benefits most and all households in the city,” he said.

If residents vote down the TABOR retention, the money will be refunded as Colorado Springs Utilities credit. Households with a Springs Utilities account will receive $21.50 in credit to their bill, but this doesn’t apply to renters or those without a Springs Utilities account.

“We have this $5 million excess revenue. Let us have an opportunity to use this money for something that benefits the entire city as opposed to certain households benefiting from a $21 credit to their utility bills,” Mobolade said.

Mobolade called the $4.75 million “seed money” to upgrade an “outdated” police academy.

“The current condition is we're packed,” he said. “We don't even have room right now for our existing needs.”

Colorado Springs Police Chief Adrian Vasquez declined an interview because he can't talk about city ballot issues, but during the council meeting Tuesday, he said the current academy is a “financial liability.”

He told the council the police department’s training needs have outgrown the facility, as it is too small, creating inefficiencies that cost the department time and resources.

13 Investigates reported earlier this year that the police department’s response times have increased for all priority calls. The department blames its low staff, which is about 80 officers short. Vasquez claims a new academy will help increase police numbers and in turn lower response times and improve public safety.

Retired police officer Chris Burns, who spoke in favor of the ballot initiative at the council meeting Tuesday, said he’s had multiple bad experiences when calling 911.

“The resourcing of the police department needs addressing,” he said. “I graduated from that academy and it was too small. It was complex, it was packed and the training was degraded because of it. You want better training? You need a better academy.”

However, other citizens who spoke against the ballot initiative said the money could be spent on other issues, including addressing homelessness and affordable housing. Resident Samantha Christianson said some residents need the TABOR refund in their Springs Utilities account.

“Dismissing the idea that this is just a credit to the utility bill is really insensitive to a lot of people that are struggling,” she said.

It’s these citizens who will have the final say in whether this TABOR retention passes. Since 2009, the city’s past seven TABOR ballot initiatives have passed by about 60%.

Donelson points to the recent turmoil at the state level over TABOR refunds due to Proposition HH, as a reason the ballot initiative here in Colorado Springs could fail. He said if it does it will be a waste of taxpayer money, as the addition of the ballot initiative to the November election is costing the city more than $400,000.

Donelson also said the city doesn’t have a complete plan for the new police academy.

According to the city, the current cost of the new police academy varies. Mobolade said the $4.75 million of TABOR funds will be used for the design phase but purchasing and remodeling a facility could cost anywhere from $12 million to $21 million, and a brand new facility could be as much as $45 million.

“I truly don't believe we have a plan,” Donelson said. “I think we kind of have some ideas on what we want to do. We're telling the citizens, ‘Just let us keep the tax money. We're going to figure it out in the future.’”

If the ballot initiative fails in November, Mobolade said the city will still pursue a new police academy using other funds, which he said will likely be a larger financial burden on taxpayers. However, he said he is confident Colorado Springs residents will vote for improved public safety.

“Strip away the technicality of TABOR and you're really voting for the safety of your neighborhood,” Mobolade said. “I'm voting for the safety of my neighborhood. I have no agenda. I have no desire to take your money from you. I just want to ensure that you have a safe city.”

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