Transportation issues dominate city's budget hearing

Dozens of Colorado Springs residents packed into City Hall on Thursday night for a public hearing on Mayor Steve Bach’s proposed $224.5 million budget for next year.

Among them was Sharon King, a 64-year-old woman who uses a wheelchair.

King, who has lived in the Springs since 1998, urged city officials to fund a $100,000 request from Accessible Coordinated Transportation. ACT, which is working with four other organizations, including Silver Key Senior Services, wants the money to pay for “specialized transportation rides” for seniors and the physically and mentally disabled.

ACT’s request for funding drew the most speakers at Thursday’s hearing. It is one that city officials will consider during  the budget process in coming weeks.

On Nov. 3, the council will hold a budget mark-up session to amend the mayor’s proposed budget. The council is scheduled to deliver the revised budget to the mayor Dec. 15.

“I didn’t know that they weren’t getting that money until that was brought up tonight, and we’re going to talk about it as a staff and talk to council before a week from today,” Bach said about ACT’s request.

“It is important for our community to help people in need, and I’m committed to that. We want to do a better job than we have, but just putting more money into a system that to me isn’t very efficient” isn’t the answer, Bach said.

ACT is seeking an additional $36,000 for operating costs and matching funds for grants.

Another group that wants more money is the Friends of Cheyenne Cañon, which is asking for $25,000 to hire a volunteer coordinator. Other people pushed for more money and planning for parks.

And some urged council to adopt the mayor’s budget straight up.

Brenda Smith, former chief operatingofficer of First Presbyterian Church and a trustee of El Pomar Foundation, said council should stick with the mayor’s revenue projections.  

But ACT’s request dominated the public hearing.

King told Bach and the council that every line item in a budget is a moral question.

She asked them to focus “just a little” on people who are “relatively invisible” to them.

“I have brain damage from (multiple sclerosis), and I can’t find my way. I get lost. Right now, I’m not sure which direction to go to get home,” she said in an interview outside City Hall.
King said the city’s approval of ACT’s $100,000 request would greatly improve her life.

“When I can go where all of the rest of the community goes, it improves my sense of self-esteem and my sense of self-worth,” she said. “All of us benefit from having open lives and those of us who are handicapped or poor or both are just like everybody else. We benefit from open lives engaged with the larger community.”