FoCo in 15 Minutes | PSD Charter Power, Surveillance Debate, Water Increase & FoCoMX Returns

Welcome to Fort Collins Lifestyles, your weekly insider look at life, real estate, and community across Northern Colorado.This week in Fort Collins & Northern Colorado:🏫 PSD Regains Charter School Authority — Poudre School District now has exclusive control over approving new charter schools starting in 2026–27, restoring local decision-making after a state board vote. 🔬 Preston Middle School Wins State Title (Again) — Preston reclaimed the Science Olympiad championship, marking its 15th title and continuing one of the most dominant academic programs in Colorado. 📡 Surveillance Debate Could Go to Voters — A proposed ordinance could require public approval for most city surveillance tools, including cameras, drones, and license plate readers—raising major questions around privacy vs. public safety. 💧 More Water Available Despite Drought — Northern Water increased the 2026 CBT water quota to 80%, thanks to strong reservoir storage and system conditions—even as drought concerns continue. 🎶 FoCoMX Returns to Downtown — The Fort Collins Music eXperiment is back April 24–25, turning downtown into a citywide music festival with hundreds of artists and venues. 🍺 Downtown Loveland Brewing Expansion — Two breweries are expanding into new downtown locations, signaling continued investment and revitalization despite industry-wide challenges. 🔥 Fire Authority Funding Pressure — Rising costs and aging infrastructure may require a future sales tax vote to sustain fire services. 💼 $1.7 Billion in Economic Projects — Fort Collins is actively pursuing major business attraction efforts, signaling significant growth potential ahead. 💻 Major ERP System Overhaul Coming — A multi-year upgrade to the city’s internal financial and operational systems is underway to improve long-term efficiency. 🤝 Regional Collaboration Increasing — Northern Colorado cities are working together more strategically to attract large employers and economic opportunities. ⚖️ Public Pushback on Free Speech & Surveillance — Residents raised concerns about both policy restrictions and data usage, signaling ongoing tension between governance and civil liberties. • FoCoMX 2026 — April 24–25 | Downtown Fort Collins• Drug Take Back Day — April 25 | Windsor• Colorado Eagles Playoffs — April 22 & 24 | Blue Arena• NOCO Half Marathon & 10K — April 25 | Boyd Lake📲 Thinking about buying, selling, or investing in Northern Colorado?Let’s connect — I help clients make confident, well-informed real estate decisions with both data and boots-on-the-ground insight.Patrick Soukup📞 Call/Text: 970-893-3533📧 Email: [email protected]🌐 Website: soukuprealestate.com