Once budget casualty, the 2026 fire academy is back, thanks to recreational marijuana dollars

Once budget casualty, the 2026 fire academy is back, thanks to recreational marijuana dollars

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (KRDO) - Last fall, Colorado Springs was facing a budget crisis, and with that came budget cuts: the Meadows Park Community Center closure, no cost-of-living or performance-based raises for employees in 2026, and no fire academy, at least until Tuesday. 36 future Colorado Springs firefighters now make up the once-canceled academy, which kicked off on Tuesday. It's an 18-week training program designed to prepare them for t…

CSFD brings back training academy to full functionality

(COLORADO SPRINGS) — The Colorado Springs Fire Department (CSFD) announced the reinstatement of the 2026 Fire Training Academy after it was previously slated for cancellation due to budget reductions. According to CSFD, thanks to tax revenues from recreational marijuana, the academy is back on track and fully operational. "Public safety is the foundation of a [...]