Recent interest in Aurora becoming a city-county government deserves consideration by Aurora taxpayers, but we hope it is one that includes an eagle-eye review of the facts.
As Colorado’s third-largest county, Arapahoe County’s five commissioners and five countywide elected officials work to provide services to the County’s more than 600,000 residents efficiently, effectively and wisely.
We take exception to Mayor Hogan’s view that Aurora is being “shortchanged” and lacks proper representation.
While we cannot speak for Douglas and Adams counties, we know Aurora residents living in Arapahoe County are well represented by leaders who work hard to ensure federal and state tax dollars are coming back to Arapahoe County. In fact, Aurora is represented by four commissioners with two commissioners living within the city’s borders.
Here are just a few examples of county services benefiting Aurora.
Under Arapahoe County’s leadership, Aurora motorists have an easier time getting through the intersection of Parker and Arapahoe roads. In 1998, Arapahoe County began working with CDOT to secure $50.4 million in federal and state funding, including $9 million from Arapahoe County to ensure the project would be completed 30 years ahead of schedule.
In 2002, Arapahoe County built CentrePoint Plaza, which serves as the primary location for our Human Services Department because a majority of our clients lived in Aurora. Today, 60 percent of our caseloads are from Aurora. These services are paid for – in part – by a countywide property tax dedicated to funding social services programs. If you remove the rest of the county from the tax base, Aurora residents likely will pay more.
In 2004, the Clerk and Recorder opened a motor vehicle office at Alameda and Chambers to better serve Aurora residents. In 2011, a driver’s license office opened at the county’s Altura Plaza in north Aurora so residents would not have to travel to Centennial or Littleton to conduct these transactions. The Assessor also has an Aurora office .
Our mill levy is 16.130 mills, one of the lowest county mill levies in the metro area. Our property tax base is supported by the economic engine of the Denver Tech Center and the property values of Greenwood Village and Cherry Hills Village. Aurora makes up 48 percent of Arapahoe County’s population, but only accounts for 31 percent of the County’s assessed valuation. Given this disparity, it is likely Aurora taxpayers will have to pay more to make up the difference.
Since 2003, Arapahoe County has distributed more than $100 million in open space revenue to cities, towns and special districts, of which, nearly half – or more than $48.3 million – has gone directly back to Aurora for parks, trails and open space that residents enjoy.
Aurora residents also receive their fair share of other County programs. For example, nearly 40 percent of the homes weatherized by Arapahoe County last year were in Aurora; 70 percent of our transportation clients were Aurora residents, and roughly 42 percent of job-seekers visiting the Arapahoe/Douglas Works! workforce center live in Aurora. In fact, Arapahoe County has staffed a workforce center within the city since 2009 specifically to make it easier for Aurorans to access these services.
When it comes to job creation and business retention, Arapahoe County takes a regional approach but with an eye toward collaboration. Instead of funding our own economic development program, we work in partnership with our communities. In 2013, we contributed $304,810 for economic development, of which $124,500 funded two organizations within Aurora — the Aurora Economic Development Council and the Aurora Chamber of Commerce.
There is no doubt that creating a new county will be expensive. Aurora residents will need to consider: the cost to build and operate a county jail and courts; provide facilities to conduct autopsies and death investigations; purchase the required equipment to hold elections; record documents, supply marriage licenses, issue motor vehicle titles and registration; provide a health department; assess properties; collect and distribute taxes and provide social-service programs as required by law.
In Arapahoe County, our focus is to provide exceptional services while at the same time being good stewards of our citizens’ tax dollars. Our residents have come to expect a county government that is innovative, responsive and fiscally responsible. We understand and support Aurora’s desire to consider its future. We just hope it is done in a manner that provides taxpayers with the facts.
Arapahoe County Commissioners
Nancy Doty, District 1 Nancy Sharpe, District 2 Rod Bockenfeld, District 3 Nancy Jackson, District 4 Bill Holen, District 5
“Aurora makes up 48 percent of Arapahoe County’s population, but only accounts for 31 percent of the County’s assessed valuation.”
Can you tell us what percentage of Arapahoe county spending takes place in Aurora? That seems like a relevant fact that was omitted here.
I agree, County Commissioners. Thank you for pointing out our tax dollars already at work.
Of course the Arapahoe County Commissioners are going to tell us about the great job they are doing, and I believe they are. I just think that we in Aurora could do a better job and cut out the middleman. Aurora has built a city that brings value to the table. Aurora creates homes, neighborhoods, communities, retail and business centers by providing water, sewers, streets, job and activity centers, public safety and much more while the county provides very little. We can do for ourselves what the county does. We really don’t need the county and like other good cities, it’s time to cut those ties and continue our future without the county strings attached.
City hall exaggerated millions of dollars in drought funding needs to extreme excess and borrowed way more money than they ever should have, constantly reimburses managers staff expense reports that includes valet parking, free lunches for meetings and promotions and raises to best friends who will hide what they do way more frequently than the public realizes. Internal audit is no longer allowed to audit council or finance and any employee who dares to challenge management is heresy and you will be pushed out. If you want those city hall people to manage more of our tax dollars, give them your paycheck because in no way will I authorize or promote irresponsibility with public money the way city hall has in the last several years.
Huh? Mr citznsduped must live in Hicksville, LA. We have it pretty nice here in Aurora. Who cares what you will authorize or promote? Who made you god? You cannot even put a meaningful sentence together. Pathetic!
Please don’t try so hard to prove your ignorance. Everything citznsduped wrote is correct and just the tip of the iceberg on city finances. The only pathetic thing here is you being so oblivious to what is really happening. Have a nice day!