The new year will bring a new round of political questions and economic issues for Mayor Yemi Mobolade, the Colorado Springs City Council and surrounding municipalities to navigate, coming off a 2025 filled with rising prices for consumers and belt-tightening for local governments.

While we don’t have a crystal ball, we can take a look ahead to big stories we’ll be keeping our eyes on in 2026 around Colorado Springs and the Pikes Peak region.

CITY GOVERNMENT

Ray Nixon Power Plant

Colorado Springs Utilities will also have its share of questions about the projects in its growing $2 billion budget.

One of the first major decisions of the year could come when the Utilities Board, which is composed of City Council members, weighs in on changing the closure plans for the Ray Nixon Power Plant. Utilities CEO Travas Deal has discussed keeping the coal-fire aspect of the plant open beyond 2029, the currently agreed-to end date, if officials cannot find an alternative power source. Potential changes to that timeline would go to the board in early 2026 through the utility’s integrated resource plan. If the board backs the changes to Ray Nixon, Utilities would still need approval from the state Air Quality Control Commission and potentially the Environmental Protection Agency.

New power rates roll out across Colorado Springs

In fall 2025, Utilities began rolling out a new rate package for power customers across Colorado Springs. The Energy Wise rates charge a higher price for “peak” electrical hours between 5 and 9 p.m. weekdays and discounted rates at other times of the week. As the rates become the standard option for all customers early next year, it remains to be seen how this will affect the habits for households and the revenue Utilities brings in from the new bills.

Where cuts to the city budget could be felt in 2026

Mobolade and the City Council had to make difficult cuts and decisions about the 2026 city budget as they faced a $31 million decline in revenue from the previous year. Now that the changes are in place, Colorado Springs will have to navigate another year of economic uncertainty.

That includes determining the future uses for Meadows Park Community Center, which the mayor’s office chose to close in October as part of the budget cuts. The site is still owned by Colorado Springs. Furloughs across all city departments will take effect in the new year.

The looming question is whether the city’s sales tax revenue, which funds more than half of general city spending, and the overall economy will bounce back or if city leaders will have to make another round of cuts heading into 2027.

Big tax questions on the November ballot

Economic concerns may also be on voters’ minds during the November 2026 election. In addition to state and federal elections, the Colorado Springs ballot could include multiple questions about increasing taxes to invest in city programs.

For months, councilmembers floated a measure to increase the public safety sales tax to provide more funding for the police and fire departments. The ballot could also include a question about placing a “sin tax” on tobacco and marijuana sales, which the Joint Initiatives for Youth & Families has proposed as an option to increase funding for local child care programs. Other questions could appear on the ballot either because of council action or a public signature campaign.

Changes to how Colorado Springs grows?

There may not be a single development on the horizon for 2026 that would be as large or controversial as the Amara or Karman Line proposals were in recent years. But the rejection of both of those developments could continue to shape how Colorado Springs handles other annexations

City staff, along with a hired consultant, have spent nearly two years working on an update to the AnnexCOS master plan, which is the guiding document for the practicality of adding new land to Colorado Springs. Whatever changes are approved next year would be the first updates to the guidelines since 2006. New master plans for downtown and the city park system will go before the council at some point in the year.

COUNTY AND SURROUNDING AREA

The new year may see some major decisions around the Pikes Peak region, including on a development that could change the makeup of Calhan, further plans for 5,000 homes on the border of Schriever Space Force Base, and the conclusion to a year-long battle over Buc-ee’s in Palmer Lake.

More homes near Schriever?

After the El Paso County Board of County Commissioners approved initial plans for a mixed-use development on the border of Schriever, more specific plans could be coming and explain how Flying Horse Land Company wants to develop 1,800 acres. Concerns have been raised about encroachment on the base’s restricted zone, which protects base operations.

Calhan could consider a major expansion

A new development proposed for the small Eastern Plains town of Calhan could more than double the population. Called North Tree, the subdivision would have up to 475 homes. While the plan was in the early stages of review in 2025, next year could see it solidify.

Buc-ee’s election coming up sometime soon

The Palmer Lake Board of Trustees has not had much success agreeing on the date or content of a special election to decide the fate of a highly divisive annexation proposal by developers hoping to build a Buc-ee’s supersized travel center. How to interpret a new voter-approved ordinance that forces Buc-ee’s to the ballot is now going to be hashed out in court.

MILITARY

Investment and innovation are on the horizon for the defense community in Colorado Springs over the coming year. 

Golden Dome competition

In December, the Missile Defense Agency selected 2,100 companies to compete for work on Golden Dome through a contract known as SHIELD or Scalable Homeland Innovative Enterprise Layered Defense. The contract has set aside $151 billion for the work. 

Some companies with a presence in Colorado made the cut, including Lockheed Martin, Raytheon — now known as RTX, and Palantir. Many other lesser-known companies made the list as well. 

Testing ground at Fort Carson

Fort Carson will also be busy in the coming year as the testing ground for the Army’s Next Generation Command and Control System, a full rebuild of its communications infrastructure, including a single modern IT foundation. 

The new foundation will allow the Army to plug in upgrades to its communication system, including new software and hardware as needed.

Fort Carson is expected to test the full system this summer. 

Piñon Canyon debate

The Army is also working on a vision to allow training with larger weapons on Piñon Canyon, northeast of Trinidad. Currently, service members are only allowed to train with .50-caliber machine guns on the training area. The Army would like to train with mortars, rockets and other large munitions. 

However, residents who live near the expansive training area are concerned about the impact of those large weapons on the land that is home to 6,000 archaeological sites.

BUSINESS

Here’s a look at some of the major business stories The Gazette will follow in 2026:

Ent Credit Union merger goes into effect

The merger of Colorado Springs-based Ent Credit Union and Wings Credit Union, based in the Twin Cities suburb of Apple Valley, Minn., is officially effective Jan. 1.

The newly combined credit union, called Wings Credit Union, will be among the largest credit unions in the U.S., with combined assets of almost $20 billion.

Members will enjoy expanded access to service centers, an enhanced digital experience with Wings’ online and mobile banking platform, and improved technology to make everyday banking faster and easier, officials said. The systems are not expected to be fully integrated until 2028, however. Members won’t experience immediate changes.

The credit union’s headquarters will remain in northern Colorado Springs. It will also retain a headquarters in Apple Valley, Minn.

Surf Shack targets early 2026 opening on the north side

Surf Shack, the recreation center that will offer simulated indoor surfing, could open on Colorado Springs’ far north side in early 2026, owner Dr. Michael Kofford previously said.

The facility is being built at the Polaris Pointe mixed-use development, southwest of the intersection of Spectrum Loop and Voyager Parkway. Kofford, a local orthodontist, originally envisioned opening the facility sometime in 2025, but the permitting process and obtaining funding took longer than expected.

It will feature a “double” wave machine manufactured by San Diego-based FlowRider to simulate ocean waves for riders, a second-level sauna, two outdoor sand volleyball courts, a spacious patio with a hot tub, conference and party rooms, locker rooms, and food and beverage areas.

Progress at Colorado Springs Airport

Officials at the Colorado Springs Airport expect the ongoing $36 million concourse modernization project, called Elevate COS, to be completed by its target month of May.

The airport is updating gates, gate counters, flooring and ceilings, installing new podiums and larger hold rooms, and more. The concourse has not seen major renovations or structural upgrades since its construction in 1994.

City and airport officials have said the project will increase sustainability and accessibility for travelers. It has been under construction since September 2023.

Barnes & Noble expanding in Colorado Springs

A new Barnes and Noble location is coming to Colorado Springs’ east side. The third location will call the shopping center at First & Main home. It will not impact operations at the two existing locations, according to the company.

Plans to build on a then-vacant lot were originally called “Cinema Point Retail.” By late last year, however, documents submitted to the city revealed Barnes & Noble wanted to build a new store, bucking an ongoing trend of some retail stores slowing or stopping expansion.

“We are excited about the store opening in Colorado Springs,” said Vice President of Store Planning and Design Janine Flanigan. “The store is tentatively planned to open summer of 2026. The store will be about 18,000 square feet and modeled in our new design, seen in our most recent store openings.”

Sports complex coming?

The Colorado Springs sports sector experienced some ups and downs throughout 2025, but by and large, it was healthy, according to a panel of four local experts discussing the first annual sports economy report.

Colorado Springs has several world-class venues, but they are spread throughout the city, panelists said. What organizers look for and want is a centralized location for their events. Colorado Springs is at a disadvantage compared to other areas, said Megan Leatham, the president and CEO of Colorado Springs Sports Corp.

The Sports Corp. is aiming to fix the situation by developing a 130-acre sports complex in the Banning Lewis Ranch area. The complex could open in 2029, according to an early and loose timeline, she said, adding that the demand exists.

Defense contractor continues major expansion

A Colorado Springs tech and defense company plans to more than triple in size over the next eight years.

ITS — short for Infinity Technology Services — employs close to 200 people and plans to add more than 500. The company specializes in cybersecurity, information technology, space systems and associated ground systems.

The planned expansion, announced in July, would push ITS out of the small business category. It also said it would keep its headquarters in Colorado Springs rather than, as considered, moving to Henderson, Nev., which is outside Las Vegas and near Nellis Air Force Base, and Huntsville, Ala., which was picked to be the new home of U.S. Space Command by President Donald Trump on Sept. 2.

“We’ll still be a big player in the small business market here in town,” said Hassan Campbell, ITS founder and CEO. “As far as how that feels, it feels like there’s a lot of work to be done.”

More companies are moving in at Peak Innovation Park

Utah-based Swire Coca-Cola, USA, and Minnesota-based Opus, a group of commercial real estate development, design and construction companies, in December began moving into or announced plans to move into Peak Innovation Park at the entrance to the Colorado Springs Airport.

The 16,000-acre master planned business park is currently home to companies like Amazon, Northrop Grumman, The Aerospace Corporation and Frito Lay.

Opus began construction in mid-December on its two-building, 252,890-square-foot Forge at Peak Innovation industrial development. It is located on 18.2 acres in the heart of Peak Innovation Park.

In a news release, Opus’ Senior Director of Real Estate Development Eric Chamberlin said in part: “With Colorado Springs’ pro-business environment and the park’s location and infrastructure, Forge will attract Department of Defense, aerospace and same-day distribution users looking to expand in Colorado Springs and the Front Range.”

Forge at Peak Innovation Park, Opus’ first project in the Colorado market, is slated for completion in December 2026.

COURTS

Several major hearings are set to commence next year, including the sentencings for the Return to Nature Funeral Home owners and the trial for a triple-homicide suspect out of Custer County.

Hanme Clark – Feb. 2

The first major trial of the year is for Hanme Clark, who is accused of fatally shooting three of his neighbors — Rob Geers, his wife, Beth Wade Geers, and James Daulton — over what authorities believe was a land dispute Nov. 20, 2023.

According to court records, Clark’s case was moved from Custer County to Fremont County in June after a judge granted a change of venue request. The trial was scheduled to begin in September but was delayed due to the defense presenting witnesses after the required timeframe, per state law and the court’s order.

Jon Hallford – Feb. 6

Jon Hallford is set to be sentenced in February on 191 counts of abuse of a corpse after an El Paso County judge accepted his latest plea agreement earlier this month.

Jon and Carie Hallford came under investigation in October 2023 after a foul smell was reported from their Penrose Return to Nature Funeral Home property. A search warrant resulted in the gruesome discovery of more than 190 decomposing bodies. The pair faced both state and federal charges.

After pushback from families of victims regarding his initial plea agreement in August that would have seen him sentenced to 20 years in prison, Jon Hallford was heading to trial. However, new negotiations arose later in the year that stipulated a 30- to 50-year prison sentence, to run concurrently to his federal sentence.

Jon Hallford was sentenced to 20 years in federal prison in July on wire fraud conspiracy charges, but has since appealed the sentence.

Gerald Brooks and Jerome Scott – March

The two roommates accused of holding two runaways hostage and feeding them drugs and alcohol before sexually assaulting them are also set to go to trial in 2026.

Roommates Jerome Scott, 62, and Gerald Brooks, 68, were arrested in early July after detectives found the teenage girls inside an apartment on the south edge of downtown Colorado Springs.

Brooks’ trial is expected to commence March 2, while Scott’s trial is set to begin March 9. The pair were initially set for a joint trial, but differing defenses prompted the prosecution to request that they be separated.

Carie Hallford – April 24

Carie Hallford’s initial state plea agreement was rejected in November, which stipulated a 15- to 20-year sentence in the Department of Corrections to run concurrently with her federal sentence, but accepted December negotiations alongside Jon Hallford. The new agreement, which stipulates that she must admit guilt for 191 charges for abuse of a corpse, indicates a 25- to 35-year sentence for Carie Hallford, also to run concurrently to any federal sentence.

Carie Hallford officially filed for divorce from Jon Hallford in August, according to court records. The petition revealed that the pair separated on April 14, 2024, which came shortly after a federal grand jury indicted the couple on wire fraud charges on April 10, 2024.

Carie Hallford’s state sentencing is expected to begin in April, while her federal sentencing is set for March.