By Mackenzie Stafford | KRDO
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (KRDO) – On Tuesday, the Colorado Springs City Council decided to roll the dice on roughly $20 million in funding, according to the city’s estimates.
It comes after Colorado Gov. Jared Polis signed executive order D 2025 – 005, which includes blanket statewide housing requirements aimed at improving affordability.
The city claims that there are a handful of laws in the order that are not right for the Colorado Springs community. The only issue is that, as part of the executive order, not following these laws could put the city under noncompliance, which is a one-way ticket to getting those dollars pulled.
At a city hall meeting on Tuesday, councilmembers voted 7 to 2 on a resolution to reaffirm Colorado Springs’ home rule, which grants the city the constitutional right to make decisions in the best interest of the community, while also allowing public input and giving the city some separation from state law.
Prior to the vote, Council President Pro Tem, At Large, Brian Risley, read the resolution, explained his concerns and posed a question to his fellow councilmembers.
“I would like to place a call to my colleagues here on the dais and ask, are we going to uphold the oath that we took to defend the state constitution, or are we going to acquiesce to unfunded mandates and a one size fits all approach that usurps our constitutional right to establish local regulations?” questioned Brian Risley, Council President Pro Tem, At Large.