[{"_1":2,"_111":-5,"_112":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87,99],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6495291,"mediaKeyId","5547836-0d794c25fe640db139c4dcf8cfbe911b","parentId",5547836,"title","El Paso County CFO says revenues exceed forecast by $4.3 million through June; sales-tax shortfall concentrated in general fund","audioSeconds",844,"startMs",3522000,"endMs",4366000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5547836-0d794c25fe640db139c4dcf8cfbe911b&start=3522&end=4366","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5547836-0d794c25fe640db139c4dcf8cfbe911b/thumbnail_3522000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6495291/El-Paso-County/Colorado/El-Paso-County-CFO-says-revenues-exceed-forecast-by-43-million-through-June-sales-tax-shortfall-concentrated-in-general-fund","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6495291-bf9ff4203833c2fd59dd004abd5f2cb1/orig.mp4?Expires=1770439995&Signature=eaxMMcZ2OVmNVsNeRe336ovJTbn-7vcDB4QCtdx6oKBjdONztgjhSFVCgnJ6j34QVGIUSEvflOwj9RVdBMmkcWLwnuLO555mbSq~wS7cCsLc~B4GkDfmJZvn8Ros7yIUUXU~LO9jI3CuGbuHDFc6ApuB7wlXQC50CFyl63Z2PSN1j56tLoQq4DcOqWLb-FD4BcUlLIzeTIbWmdPDOMkLJlvrA2M8Gv9NwyC1CL2b06WF0xymRmPpYhqyDw-WUqNrMJqEXAn1shzOSONvYXh~FO-PbnAkNj1qIEQkem4Odq-cE~OVmDJGUjzPFvLF1dRZh~gt7ajVO2xsTHzDcHPNBQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","El Paso County","date","2025-08-06T01:09:08.857Z","article","Nikki Simmons, El Paso County chief financial officer, presented the county’s June 2025 budget performance report to the Board of County Commissioners on Aug. 5, telling commissioners that, while sales-tax receipts lagged budget expectations through May by about $941,000, overall revenues for the year-to-date exceeded the county’s forecast by about $4.3 million.

Simmons said the county’s 1% sales-and-use tax budget is allocated across the general fund, road and bridge, capital improvement, human services and self-insurance funds. “We are shy of our budget through June of about $941,000 in sales tax,” she said, noting that the variance concentrates in the general fund because the other funds receive their budgeted allocations each month and any delta shows up in the general fund.

She cited compensating revenue sources including higher-than-expected investment interest (about $2.3 million above budget year-to-date) and stronger recording fees in the clerk and recorder’s office following a July 1 fee-change law. Simmons said year-to-date sales-tax growth over 2024 is positive but modest (under 1 percent) and described the county’s 2025 budget as intentionally conservative — a “recession-resistant” approach when the budget was prepared in 2024.

On other funds, Simmons reported that highway-user taxes to the Road and Bridge Fund had come in higher than the state estimate and that the county’s public-safety sales tax was at about 98.8 percent of budget. She noted American Rescue Plan Act balances: the county began the year with about $35.5 million in ARPA-eligible funds and had expended about $6.5 million, largely for water and wastewater grants to regional jurisdictions.

Simmons advised commissioners that the clerk and recorder’s office is monitoring changes to recording fees after a July 1 law moved to a flat fee schedule and that final state closeouts for human-services allocations will be available in August. She also said that some variances in self-insurance and workers’ compensation will adjust as pending settlements and expected stop-loss reimbursements are processed.

Commissioners responded with follow-up questions about which funds receive the sales-tax allocations and how variances are carried forward into budget planning. Several commissioners praised the finance team’s conservative budgeting approach and noted that, compared with reports from other jurisdictions, El Paso County appears to be in a relatively stronger fiscal position midyear.

Simmons said she will return with a June sales-tax report once June collections are posted and will provide further detail on industry-level sales trends.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Board of County Commissioners Meeting 8-5-2025","oneSentenceSummary","Chief Financial Officer Nikki Simmons told commissioners the county is roughly $941,000 shy of its sales-tax budget through June but overall is $4.3 million above revenue forecasts thanks to higher investment returns and other compensating revenues; she described the county's conservative 'recession-resistant' budgeting approach.","taxTitle","El Paso County, Colorado","taxId",5790,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6495296,"Public commenter says library lawsuit ended, highlights volunteer-run Reading at the Rock and PPLD fund balance",165,2581000,2746000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5547836-0d794c25fe640db139c4dcf8cfbe911b&start=2581&end=2746","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5547836-0d794c25fe640db139c4dcf8cfbe911b/thumbnail_2581000.jpg","/articles/6495296/El-Paso-County/Colorado/Public-commenter-says-library-lawsuit-ended-highlights-volunteer-run-Reading-at-the-Rock-and-PPLD-fund-balance","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6495296-d20d769c0ff2401b6f2a7cac43f9801e/orig.mp4?Expires=1770439995&Signature=QfSMKygj-giQs3aQJrSlHyUTLiYneHUtiZbM-2KOlIDzg-BwOFh3ActvxnzM1t5-V5K0kCvg4i2Q8JOIRKpinnOJuzck4QvGN4K4EA5c-YRozPKjLyCUK3voOoYH5uC8RNb3el8VHkisxZhXOiSIxOQrYK0Z9tnJRyCWzVDvQAE6dgXAezRj0bMX3naOxYiLXrb3-M4U404A5AM8twk-GUH3j5CCGEtHRFtt6WyAAfVFbDZ1A7UR~2y358DpP~xH1Z3~Z6Z02rWd2CRIeoH27PIWp2HkyG0ZUpRamViDE8Wr5pC-59xLyMXq6f~PiKZAQmYedNMGiMOeI7mh~lYH3A__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","At the Aug. 5 meeting, Veronica Baker addressed the Board of County Commissioners during public comment to report that a lawsuit involving the Pikes Peak Library District (PPLD) has ended and to urge renewed collaboration among county leaders, the district and community volunteers.

Baker said community members launched a volunteer-run “Reading at the Rock” after the abrupt closure of the Rockrimmon library and argued that the project demonstrates residents’ commitment to library access. She cited a recent audit of PPLD financial records that, she said, showed a moderately strong position and “16 to $18,000,000” in fund balance available for capital or operating needs.

Baker encouraged the commissioners to engage individually with community members and welcomed Commissioner Lauren Nelson’s participation on a joint appointment committee for PPLD. She said the ending of the lawsuit removes barriers to open dialogue and urged officials to help restore and expand library access in underserved areas, including the east side of Colorado Springs.

The board received the comments during the public-comment portion of the meeting and did not take action on the matters Baker raised during the session.","A public commenter told commissioners that, now that a lawsuit is concluded, community groups hope to collaborate on library services; she cited a volunteer-run interim library at Rockrimmon and a roughly $16–18 million fund balance reported in a recent audit of the Pikes Peak Library District.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6495301,"Commissioners approve liquor licenses for Black Forest café and Falcon golf-simulator venue",687,2770000,3457000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5547836-0d794c25fe640db139c4dcf8cfbe911b&start=2770&end=3457","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5547836-0d794c25fe640db139c4dcf8cfbe911b/thumbnail_2770000.jpg","/articles/6495301/El-Paso-County/Colorado/Commissioners-approve-liquor-licenses-for-Black-Forest-café-and-Falcon-golf-simulator-venue","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6495301-aa6149a691ff22fbc1b3a9ebed88987e/orig.mp4?Expires=1770439995&Signature=GqgNRa1kUtKNEFYnvn9YPVLb6A0wO6DJ-Wodej4YFzGoYqhFbSq1YmqKA4zmL1jJEUtXrDmq1ikOVrINQLnml2adKC4hKHhLhWSC~K8v0e6yilmRY~QjAoTnGbUtzIBqqS~v-wZDkOT2lwIZxWlgm7R1iIbZ8g8DkqhlDrpHU1fCFVbABfd69RVsjO2xagyxYxrJq6pfp502-FhRFVC6lhUDZcaP~~Npj5mzXyH3djhzeMSdKAXLbCpcxGSL0Rmf1Y1ShfuAy3wa6wjXOl3xs~Md6lhwnK1Y9ESnMnClhC5iHsISyjL9Q9z3s1-pGtlrFse-aC3-xl2AS6giZzzApw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The El Paso County Board of County Commissioners voted 5-0 on Aug. 5 to approve two liquor-licensing applications following abbreviated hearings and neighborhood-survey results.

Damon Cassens, an attorney representing Mountain View Café and Catering, introduced the petition for a hotel-and-restaurant liquor license for the business at 11424 Black Forest Road (Commissioner District 1). Petitioners co-owner Bridgette Edgel said the café operates a breakfast-and-lunch service open roughly 7 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. and hosts occasional evening events such as rehearsal dinners.

Consultant Carol Johnson of Liquor Pros summarized the survey for Mountain View: petitioners made 170 total attempts (22 business, 148 residential) and obtained 57 signatures — 10 business signatures (all in support) and 45 residential signatures in support with one residential opposition and one neutral. Johnson said six attempted contacts were not qualified to sign and that, if the single opposition were considered ineligible for redevelopment concerns, the support rate would be 100 percent among valid signatures. After a brief opportunity for commissioners’ questions, the board approved the license by roll-call vote.

The board then considered Bogies and Brews Golf LLC, an applicant for a tavern liquor license at 11716 Bentgrass Market View in Falcon (Commissioner District 2). Applicant Johnny Alaniz described a four-bay indoor golf-simulator entertainment venue with an onsite bar. Liquor Pros reported 655 total attempts (21 business, 634 resident contacts) and 110 signatures: 12 business signatures (six in support, six no opinion) and 98 residential signatures (91 in support and four in opposition). Reasons cited for opposition included unspecified concerns and views that there were already enough establishments.

Commissioners discussed location and timing for the Falcon business; the applicant said build-out and permitting were under way with an anticipated opening in late September or October. The board approved the tavern license by roll-call vote.

Both hearings proceeded as abbreviated hearings after the county attorney and clerk confirmed that state and local requirements had been met and that the sheriff’s background checks revealed no relevant criminal history. The vote records show unanimous approval for both licenses: Commissioners Wysong, Nelson, Applegate, Vice Chair Holly Williams and Chair Carrie Geithner voted aye on each application.

Petitioners and representatives present for the hearings included Damon Cassens (counsel), Bridgette Edgel and Spring Gould (Mountain View co-owners), Carol Johnson (Liquor Pros), and Johnny Alaniz (Bogies and Brews).","The board granted a hotel-and-restaurant liquor license to Mountain View Café and Catering in Black Forest and approved a tavern license for Bogies and Brews Golf in Falcon after abbreviated hearings and neighborhood surveys; both motions passed 5-0.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6495303,"El Paso County proclaims National Night Out 2025; sheriff urges residents to \"be a nosy neighbor\"",335,1000000,1335000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5547836-0d794c25fe640db139c4dcf8cfbe911b&start=1000&end=1335","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5547836-0d794c25fe640db139c4dcf8cfbe911b/thumbnail_1000000.jpg","/articles/6495303/El-Paso-County/Colorado/El-Paso-County-proclaims-National-Night-Out-2025-sheriff-urges-residents-to-be-a-nosy-neighbor","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6495303-a99f41d1137c59a60b53ecf69d197077/orig.mp4?Expires=1770439995&Signature=QaZK6s1osrwFI9h7LkwBTGVgz62TobH9WoLxqUkhSF-VeTpIzw1j9o2ihZg~i-0Z1H~M5g7eDdV7SVSoIHx8KL-JyI-dvtb4XwKYxc5cEdHghkF~DJBe0U9YNPyqAfxfoXgNS0KTJ3Dk4VpiGD6M-1b~l-N5zd4gGgj6xUBkqJFC4iE6E6HnSNvMAqTctZFp8XkRIfxo13y1vFIL~jaKNGliY5K2OHVTeq1voa32exOddcd-9e~Mxj17RguZmFC8bBkuSGL2gqEwUhQ8OZhPBn~Kf-jMgGjwOg7a05dF7zTywGOoKLjIp8A7t8Q~RKatmYd~5imN03jASqiq3N1rvQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The El Paso County Board of County Commissioners adopted a proclamation recognizing National Night Out 2025 on Aug. 5 and heard remarks from the El Paso County Sheriff’s Office urging residents to watch for unusual activity and contact neighbors or law enforcement.

The proclamation, introduced by Vice Chair Holly Williams, sought to formally recognize the El Paso County Sheriff’s Office partnership with the National Association of Town Watch in supporting crime prevention programs on Aug. 5, 2025. The board voted 5-0 to adopt the proclamation.

The proclamation text, read into the record, describes National Night Out as “a positive, proactive nationwide crime, drug, and violence prevention program” and highlights neighborhood watch groups’ role in supporting the El Paso County Sheriff’s Office and local law enforcement partners.

After the proclamation reading, a representative of the El Paso County Sheriff’s Office thanked the board for support and said more than 50 personnel — including deputies, professional staff, volunteers and members of the sheriff’s posse — planned to attend 11 National Night Out events in unincorporated parts of the county, from Monument and Falcon to Black Forest and Cimarron Hills.

“Be a nosy neighbor,” the sheriff’s office representative said, explaining that residents should report unusual or out-of-place activity — for example, an open garage door — to neighbors or law enforcement. “Be engaged. Have those relationships. Know your neighbors. If something’s out of the ordinary, call.”

Commissioners thanked the sheriff’s representatives and several members of the board shared anecdotes reinforcing the message to build neighbor-to-neighbor contact lists and watch out for one another. The board recessed briefly for a photo after adopting the proclamation.

The vote to adopt the proclamation was unanimous: Commissioners Wysong, Nelson, Applegate, Vice Chair Williams and Chair Carrie Geithner voted aye.

The board listed the next regular meeting for Aug. 26 at 9 a.m.","The El Paso County Board of County Commissioners adopted a proclamation recognizing National Night Out 2025 and heard remarks from the El Paso County Sheriff’s Office about neighborhood engagement and safety strategies for August events across unincorporated county areas.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

El Paso County CFO says revenues exceed forecast by $4.3 million through June; sales-tax shortfall concentrated in general fund

Public commenter says library lawsuit ended, highlights volunteer-run Reading at the Rock and PPLD fund balance

Commissioners approve liquor licenses for Black Forest café and Falcon golf-simulator venue

El Paso County proclaims National Night Out 2025; sheriff urges residents to "be a nosy neighbor"