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City announces plans to create Colorado Springs 911 Authority

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New program is designed to ensure Colorado Springs residents receive full benefit of their public safety dollars.

Earlier today, Mayor Yemi Mobolade, Chief of Police Adrian Vasquez, Fire Chief Randy Royal, and other public safety leaders and elected officials announced plans to create a new Colorado Springs 911 Authority that replaces our existing regional structure. This announcement ensures public safety dollars paid by the people and businesses of Colorado Springs are directed to public safety needs within the city. The creation of this new program is pending the approval of City Council.

The proposed change will move Colorado Springs from the current El Paso – Teller County 911 Authority (EPTC-911) regional structure, which the City has been a part of since 1989, into a new Colorado Springs-specific authority in 2027. As and after this transition occurs, the city will continue working with our regional partners and EPTC-911 to provide 911 and non-emergency telephone service.

"Public safety has been a defining priority of my administration from day one," said Mayor Yemi Mobolade. "We have made real progress through increased staffing, positive crime trends, improved response times, and smart investments in technology that help our first responders serve residents more effectively. This initiative builds on that progress while honoring our responsibility to be careful stewards of taxpayer dollars. Colorado Springs residents deserve a 911 funding structure that aligns the dollars they already pay with the needs of our community, strengthens emergency response, and supports the dedicated professionals answering the call."

"We value our regional partners and EPTC-911, and the current authority structure served Colorado Springs well for many years. As much as we believe in and will continue those partnerships, with public safety needs continually growing in Colorado Springs, we must ensure our public safety dollars are dedicated to the people and businesses of our city. Establishing our own authority is a step toward that goal," said Chief Adrian Vasquez of the Colorado Springs Police Department (CSPD).

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EPTC-911 was established in 1989, and the City of Colorado Springs has been part of that regional partnership since its inception. Broadly, the regional authority collects emergency telephone surcharge revenue and distributes it across El Paso and Teller counties in support of emergency telephone communications. EPTC-911 also provides regional education, community alerting, and other support. Colorado Springs leadership recognizes EPTC-911's important role, and we intend to continue working with them and our regional partners moving forward.

The proposed move aligns Colorado Springs with other large cities in Colorado that operate their own authorities, including Denver, Aurora, and Pueblo.

"Public safety begins with the first call for help," said Colorado Springs Fire Chief Randy Royal. "Our emergency communications professionals are often the first point of contact during someone's worst day, and they deserve the best tools, technology, and support available. This decision is about strengthening our ability to serve the community, which is our first responsibility, ensuring future local investments support local needs, and positioning Colorado Springs to continue leading in emergency communications and public safety innovation."

Colorado Springs represents the majority of population and surcharge revenue within the EPTC-911 region, and the Colorado Springs 911 center – a city-run entity – processes 75 percent of all 911 calls within EPTC-911's area. City leaders believe a city authority will provide a more accountable and sustainable structure for funding 911 and non-emergency telecommunications needs within Colorado Springs.

Additionally, Colorado Springs has recently adopted new public safety technology, including advanced body-worn cameras, Drone as First Responder systems, and other tools that allow CSPD and CSFD to respond to public safety emergencies more efficiently and effectively. These systems have proven their worth, and in order for these valuable tools to remain effective in the future, we must ensure our local public safety revenue supports our growing needs.

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The City plans to implement the new city-specific authority in 2027, and we will actively work with EPTC-911 and our regional partners on the technical, financial, legal, and operational steps necessary to ensure we accomplish our goal and retain these important relationships.

The new Colorado Springs 911 Authority will be funded by the current emergency telecommunications surcharges paid by Colorado Springs residents and businesses for nearly forty years. It will not result in new surcharges to residents and businesses.

"Improving public safety outcomes requires us to look honestly at the systems behind the services residents rely on every day," said District 5 Councilmember Nancy Henjum. "This initiative is an important opportunity to align dedicated 911 funding with the needs of Colorado Springs residents and to address structural gaps that affect our ability to deliver core services. As we continue the work of the Public Safety Working Committee, I am focused on responsible solutions and system changes that improve outcomes for the people we serve."

"Supporting our police department and strengthening public safety are among my highest priorities," said District 6 Councilmember Roland Rainey. "Colorado Springs residents pay into the 911 system, and they deserve to receive their fair share back in the form of reliable emergency communications, strong police support and better service for our community. This initiative is a practical step toward addressing the City's public safety funding challenges while making sure resident dollars are directed to the services that keep Colorado Springs safe."

The Mayor and City leaders look forward to working with City Council on a governance and funding structure for the Colorado Springs 911 Authority.

Additional information will soon be available at www.coloradosprings.gov/911.

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