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Council reviews $194,000 proposed LART supplemental appropriation, downtown security request and new LART administrator plan
Summary
City staff sought a supplemental appropriation of $194,000 from the Lodging and Auto Rental Tax (LART) fund for four off‑cycle event items; council debated allocations for downtown security, an administrator position funded by LART and where that administrator should be housed.
City financial staff presented an ordinance introduction on April 21 proposing a supplemental appropriation of $194,000 from the Lodging and Auto Rental Tax (LART) Fund to cover four off‑cycle event‑related items the LART citizen advisory committee recommended for 2025.
Shari McDaniel, the city’s chief financial officer, explained that off‑cycle LART applications are considered when available fund balance exists after the annual budget. The LART citizen advisory committee reviewed off‑cycle requests and recommended funding four items totaling $194,000; the presentation to council was an amendment to the 2025 budget to appropriate the funding.
Council discussion focused on three topics: a Downtown Partnership request for supplemental security funding, a proposed LART administrator position to provide dedicated oversight of event contracts, and prioritization of heritage events.
Councilmember Risley voiced concern that the Downtown Partnership requested $175,000 for expanded security but the committee recommended only $32,000. “It’s important and the vitality of downtown...hinges on the sense of safety,” he said. Councilmembers asked for additional context on how much the Downtown Partnership already spends on security and how supplemental funding would be used.
Several councilmembers asked about the recommended LART administrator. McDaniel said the recommendation followed an internal audit finding that existing staff resources were insufficient to provide contract oversight for LART events. The LART administrator would be a contracted position (not a city FTE), paid from LART, housed under the Colorado Springs Sports Corp offices and funded initially as a partial‑year position at about $62,000 annualized salary equivalent; the city would charge a transfer fee and ongoing basis points to support administration and a rebate program. Councilmembers requested a job description and the audit report; some said they would ask the city auditor for an opinion on whether oversight of taxpayer dollars should be contracted to a private entity that also receives LART funds.
Council members also discussed prioritization of heritage events and how any changes to currently budgeted items would require a separate council action to de‑appropriate existing funding. Several members asked staff to present the LART administration plan and contracting details at a future work session so that the broader public and all council members could review the job description, scope and contract terms before the council vote.
Why it matters: The LART fund is restricted revenue designated to attract visitors and support events. The supplemental appropriation and the proposed LART administrator affect how scarce tourism dollars are distributed and how the city oversees contractors funded by LART.
Ending: Staff said the ordinance to amend the 2025 budget will return for formal consideration at a future council meeting. Council requested the audit memo and job description for the recommended LART administrator and scheduled a presentation of the administrator contract at an upcoming work session so the public and council can review details before a vote.
