The City of Colorado Springs has announced a series of financial measures to address an anticipated $31 million budget shortfall for 2026. Mayor Yemi Mobolade outlined the steps, which include operational efficiencies, workforce reductions, scheduled furlough days, and the permanent closure of Meadows Park Community Center.
“These are hard decisions, but we’re acting early to protect what matters most to our residents,” said Mayor Yemi. “These decisions are about being proactive, not reactive. By planning ahead, we are protecting the core services our residents rely on, like public safety and infrastructure, and keeping Colorado Springs strong for the future. These measures will ensure we are delivering for residents while also committing ourselves to fiscal responsibility and a balanced budget. This city has been doing government efficiency for years, it’s not new to us. This economy presents new challenges, but we are rising to the occasion and making the right decisions that best serve our residents.”
The measures aim to maintain essential city services such as public safety, emergency response, and infrastructure while responding to projected declines in revenue. The proposed 2026 Budget will be formally presented by Mayor Mobolade to City Council on October 6, 2025. This presentation will start a public process involving work sessions, hearings, and deliberations throughout October and November.
One notable action is the closure of Meadows Park Community Center on October 10, 2025. The decision was based on reduced demand for programs at the center, loss of a significant youth contract, and available capacity at nearby community centers operated by the city. The closure is expected to save about $775,000 in the next budget year.
“Closing a long-standing community center is never easy, and we understand the emotional connection many residents have to Meadows Park,” said Britt Haley, Director of Parks, Recreation & Cultural Services. “This decision followed extensive evaluation of both usage and operational capacity. With declining programming and nearby alternatives available, we made the difficult choice to consolidate in order to preserve the overall strength of our parks and recreation system. We remain committed to serving this community with care and continuity through our other centers and partners.”
Residents who previously used Meadows Park Community Center are encouraged to access similar programs at Hillside, Deerfield Hills or Westside Community Centers. Additional resources are available through partnerships with organizations such as YMCA, Silver Key, and United Way Family Success Center.
Other elements of the plan include eliminating 38 civilian positions—about 1% of the city’s workforce—not including sworn public safety roles. Several vacant positions will also remain unfilled.
A furlough program will require five unpaid days off in 2026 for most city employees except those in public safety or grant-funded roles; employees earning $72,000 or more annually will take two extra floating furlough days.
To further reduce spending, select capital projects will be deferred while fleet and facilities maintenance will be centralized. Departmental savings totaling approximately $11.2 million have been identified along with a $3.5 million reduction in capital improvement spending.
Compensation adjustments for next year mean there will be no cost-of-living or performance-based raises in 2026; however civilian employees earning below their salary midpoint may receive up to a 2% pay progression on their job anniversary date while sworn step increases continue as planned.
