Colorado Springs approves over $450K in marijuana taxes to bolster South Nevada corridor security

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (KRDO) -- The City of Colorado Springs says it plans to use money from marijuana sales to help curb crime in the South Nevada corridor.

In a meeting today, the city council voted to use $458,000 from the retail marijuana tax fund to help provide security in the area, which has reports of robberies, drug use and trespassing.

The city says it is hoping the extra revenue will help bring more security to the area, in a measure that passed 7-2. Councilman Dave Donelson, who voted in favor of the funding, says he is skeptical it will lead to long-term improvements.

He says part of the reason he voted yes on the motion was that the Colorado Springs police chief had said the money going directly towards the Colorado Springs Police Department wouldn't allow them to hire any more officers, because they don't have enough applicants.

"To me, this is a stopgap," Donelson said in a city council meeting Tuesday. "It's not the ideal way to do this, but I'm convinced it's worth doing temporarily."

Councilman Kimberly Gold voted against the measure and believes the money should have gone towards housing people. She says she believes the enhanced security will just push people into different areas of the city.

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