Colorado Springs City Council finalizes plan for nearly $2 million in excess revenue

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (KRDO) -- The Colorado Springs City Council approved a plan Tuesday to spend $1.8 million in excess revenue from 2019, in addition to several other items on the agenda.

Nearly $1.2 million will be allocated to the police department for vehicle replacement, with the rest going to the fire department for COVID protective gear, self-contained breathing gear, facility repairs, hose replacements and vehicles or equipment.

"When the voters approved that the city could retain the surplus, around 60% of them requested that it be used for public safety," said Councilman Wayne Williams.

"It's critical for the operations of both our police and fire department that they have vehicles and apparatus that are functioning and in good repair, because they need to be able to respond to the emergency when it occurs," he said.

Council members also delayed voting on a plan to spend $5 million in anticipated federal funding on affordable housing and reducing homelessness.

"The council wants more information about how we've spent $10 million in federal funding we received last year for COVID recovery," said Steve Posey, the city's manager of funds from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.

The council expects to vote on the matter at its next regular meeting in two weeks.

In other council business, members made an official proclamation to honor Black History Month in Colorado Springs.

The council also accepted Mayor John Suthers' recommendation to confirm Randy Royal as the new Colorado Springs Fire Chief. He'll replace Ted Collas, who recently announced his resignation.

Royal is a longtime member of the department and was part of a nationwide search that was narrowed down to four candidates.