The Colorado Springs City Council passed Ordinance No. 25-59 on a 6-3 super majority vote which allocates revenue from the voter-approved recreational marijuana sales tax. Mayor Mobolade’s veto is misguided and misrepresents both the content and intent of the ordinance. To override the Mayor’s veto another super majority approval will be needed at a future City Council meeting.
In 2021, Colorado Springs voters passed Ballot Measure 2B. The accompanying materials clearly state:
“The revenue from the retail recreational marijuana sales tax shall be appropriated, in amounts subject to the City Council’s discretion, only for the following purposes: public safety programs, mental health services, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) treatment programs for veterans.”
This ordinance does exactly what the voters directed. It does not remove funding options for public safety. In fact, public safety is explicitly listed as an allowable and intended use. Claims that this ordinance ties the mayor’s hands or limits emergency tools are false.
Any attempt to frame this as City Council “usurping” authority is political theater. The City Council is fulfilling its role as the appropriating body of the budget for the City of Colorado Springs, using discretion granted directly by the voters.
We will not allow misinformation to distort the facts. The City Council is focused on honoring the voters’ will, funding critical public safety and mental health programs, and ensuring the tax revenue is used exactly as voted upon.