COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (KKTV) - Mayor Yemi Mobolade has vetoed an ordinance passed by the Colorado Springs City Council that would have amended how retail marijuana sales tax revenue is distributed, moving the distribution process from the city’s hands to a contracted non-profit organization.
With the legalization of recreational marijuana sales in Colorado Springs, a special fund was created for the tax revenue, with its usage limited to programs related to public safety, mental health services and PTSD treatment for veterans.
According to city documents, Ordinance No. 25-59 would have allowed the City Council to solicit and review applications for grants to be created from the fund and allowed the city to enter contracts with “an established nonprofit organization or agency in the local area which provides public safety programs, mental health services, or post-traumatic stress disorder treatment programs for veterans” to provide that funding.
The ordinance passed a vote in city council with a 6-3 super majority.
“As Mayor of Colorado Springs, I have vetoed Ordinance No. 25-59 because now, more than ever, we must protect and prioritize public safety. Our residents have spoken clearly - in meetings, surveys, and town halls - calling for greater investment in public safety. The $1.4 million in anticipated marijuana tax revenues is a critical opportunity to strengthen our core services and improve emergency response times, address the growing mental health crisis, and help keep our neighborhoods safe and vibrant. Diverting these funds to a bureaucratic and unnecessary process is not only irresponsible, but it also risks the safety and wellbeing of our community. At the same time, our city faces an $11.5 million budget shortfall, requiring tough decisions and financial discipline. This veto is about staying true to our commitment to serve residents first, protect what matters most, and ensure every taxpayer dollar works for the people of Colorado Springs.”
“Mayor Mobolade’s veto is misguided and misrepresents both the content and intent of the ordinance,” the statement reads in part.
“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."
