AURORA | City officials are struggling to fund $500 million in road and infrastructure improvements. Last week, Aurora residents largely voted down a measure to extend a property tax that would have generated $5 million annually for local transportation projects.

“It is disappointing,” said Aurora Mayor Steve Hogan, who was behind a similar ballot initiative rejected by Aurora voters in 2012. “We hope that the economy keeps improving and that more money comes in that we can allocate to public works and transportation-related projects, or we’re going to have to look hard at taking money away from other projects and putting it into transportation projects.”

Hogan said Aurora hasn’t seen a property tax increase in almost 20 years. Meanwhile the city has grown to become the third largest in Colorado with nearly 350,000 residents. As a result, city staff will have to continue working on transportation projects in a piecemeal fashion, he said.

For the 2015 budget, city council has approved $5.7 million to extend East Sixth Avenue to E-470. But Hogan said that project’s price tag is $40 million. In 2014, Aurora city council approved $2 million for that project, which means $33 million for the extension still remains unfunded. “It’s going to take several more years at this rate to complete that one project,” he said.

Hogan calls what the city is doing for transportation the “Band-Aid” approach. “We are successful through the normal budgeting process to do Band-Aid fixes, like simple resurfacing, and relatively inexpensive repairs. We simply don’t have the money to fix things that are big-dollar amounts,” he said.

Aurora’s roads are feeling the impact of supporting the state’s third-largest population, said Chris Carnahan, public works operations manager for Aurora. A 2009 inventory of  Aurora’s roadway network taken by the Public Works Department showed about 60 percent of the roads were rated in good condition, while 40 percent were rated in fair or poor condition.

“We’re particularly concerned about streets built 10-12 years ago that are all due for maintenance at once,” he said.

He added most of those roads exist in southeast Aurora neighborhoods like Tallyn’s Reach.

Carnahan said for now the department has enough funding to maintain Aurora’s roads, but that other infrastructure is in dire need of repair.

“Driving around town looking at sidewalks, concrete repair is going to be an area where we’ll need direct funding in coming years,” he said.

Aurora City Councilman Bob LeGare, who was initially optimistic that this year’s ballot measure could pass because of a stable economy, said the city council will have to look at prioritizing more money for transportation needs in next year’s budget. “We look to Denver and wish we could pass a property tax as easily as they do. They put a property tax on the ballot and it sails through,” he said.

20 replies on “Voters take the ‘no’ road, mayor laments lack of transportation dollars”

    1. Huh? What a wonderfully ignorant statement. Did you mean to say infrastructure enhancements will raise your property value allowing you to build personal wealth and get more out of your investment? Or were you implying that Aurora can artificially inflate your home value? I’m pretty sure the Arapahoe and Adams county assessors would beg to differ? Good luck!

      1. Did you have to state your objection in that fashion? The lot under my property used to be valued at $10,000 as was all the other lots, regardless of size. When they built DIA, the land that used to sell for a $1.00 an acre years ago, suddenly was valued much higher with all the businesses to be built out there. Since that land (with sales and tax production) sold for much more, now the lot under my house and garage, is valued at $35,000 as are most other lots in Hoffman Heights, with the lots under Heather-Garden apartments valued higher. But they have businesses on them so where that happens, taxes are passed on to the consumers. I don’t sell anything from my property, but do get a reduction in that a fraction of it is listed, as is the house and garage. But I notice my taxes actually paid in years, when legislators don’t have enough to give senior exemption is just as before, when property was listed at $186,000. Now at $106,500 last time, you see where I feel I lost $80,000 of my retirement asset. Had discussion with assessor and treasurer at H-G on 12 June, Candidates Forum. Know about the 2 year evaluation, and both gave very good explanation, so don’t jump my case with a rude comment. I am not as stupid as Gruber thinks Americans are, or as Ezekiel Emanuel implied with his comments of ACA (Obamacare) . And I was insulted by Nancy Pelosi with her “we have to pass the bill, to find out what is in it”?, as all should be. Until Economy improves for middle class, I will continue to vote against tax increases. And before you remind me of Pres. Bush administration, I will tell you and any other liberal, I did not notice a problem until 2009 when this administration quit declaring budgets, and we did not get COLA for some years in SS and my military pension. But my living expenses increased in every year since 2009.

  2. It’s always interesting to see government ask for more money. It never occurs to them that sometimes you just have to make do. Maybe a review of the current expenditures might free up some of the “dirty” money that’s funding relatives and contributors.

  3. It is sad and shortsighted that so many Aurora voters seem to take the position that everyone in municipal government is corrupt and out to grab their money to no valid purpose. Aurora will remain a second class city as long as voters are unwilling to pay for the infrastructure and amenities of a first class city. When the roads are impassable and there are no libraries or rec centers, they may rethink their positions. Taxes are a necessary evil. Until you are willing to do the research, stop being so close minded.

    1. I wouldn’t say everyone in municipal government is corrupt, but corruption is there. There are also very dedicated moral top quality people there and I’m grateful for their service to the city. By the way, the research is there for both sides of the argument, you stop being so close minded to think that corruption doesn’t exist in Aurora.

    2. Don’t you just love the liberal media using fear tactics on the taxpayers? Oh my gosh, soon we won’t have any roads we can drive on! (That better not happen).
      Libraries…..now there’s a sure loser. We already pay for public schools to load their media rooms with computers for student use. Libraries stopped being about book research through hardback, long ago. They became more about the free WI-FI/bank of free computers for use.
      Oh and about those rec centers. They aren’t affordable for many taxpayers to join and then council hands out free pass’ to those that didn’t pay the taxes to build them in the first place.
      Amenities….there’s a word I’m sick of hearing. Government should address the needs of the people, not the wants. People in hell want ice water but that doesn’t mean they’re going to get it.

  4. Let me see, the PRL program brings in about $2,000,000.00 every year but that money goes to social programs. Seems to this old codger that street improvements, new streets and a cooperative effort with the State could make highway 30 a real road and all of the PRL revenue has a NEXUS to these projects.

    Why not improve driving conditions and access to SE Aurora with at least 1/2 of the PRL revenue going to transportation projects?

  5. I would like to put another view on this picture. Wife and I bought our property in Aurora in 1963, with about 3,000 residents, and roads were sufficient for our needs. Altura was to east of us, very small, and we could drive through it in quick time. Through the years, we added fees and charges to our auto licenses to build E470, and make other improvements. Remember some, “just cost of hamburger a month” added. We found it was much more than that, but did not complain with Aurora absorbing Altura, growing, railroad disappearing, replaced by Potomac Street, widened, and 6th Ave wider and safer. But we made it so attractive, we attracted growth, and expanded to city of 325,000 and up. Now drugs are legal, alcohol use increased, and cost of auto insurance, licenses, etc. priced so that wife and I cut number of vehicles. With aging, we drive less, and now it becomes too dangerous to be out at times. First and only expansion I see personally, is to widen 6th Avenue past the main gate of Buckley, to stop the racing for position at that last traffic light. Have seen some very dangerous close calls there, and with more moving here for VAMC, Fitzsimons expansion, that part of highway 30 definitely needs widening for about 1 mile. After that, most traffic is not a real problem since it goes on out past the dump, and to the south. Very few that I see are trying to get on E-470 out there, since they can do that on Colfax or I-70. At my age, I don’t see need to increase my property taxes, until my property returns to level it was in 2006-07-08. The dropping of values from then to now, due to illegal aliens trashing houses, not paying utilities, and destroying lawns as was done to 8 houses on my block in 2007-2008 was not good. Being a sanctuary city was expensive to my retirement assets, since I spent money for new roof, furnace, doors and windows, and storage, while my appraised value dropped to present $80,000 loss. That should not have happened. And did not in Dove valley, or southern part of Aurora. Let them pay for expansion, since their properties remained at higher value. Just my musings, and reason for my vote.

    1. Not so fast on the southern part of Aurora holding it’s value thing.
      I was just talking to a friend who sold a house over there a couple of weeks ago. After a $20,000 price reduction, the buyer’s asked for an additional $10,000 in repair. The house was beautiful inside and out. One of the few left on that street that looked that good, by the way. The seller had to accept the loss (after years of dollars spent on upgrades, maintaining the property and full ownership), just to dump it and move on in life. The bottom line at the closing table was nowhere near what the house was valued in 2006-07-08.
      I was told that many potential buyers couldn’t stand the speed and amount of traffic on that street too. There was even a comment left with the real estate agent that said the potential buyers decided they wanted to live in a nicer looking neighborhood so concluded they were willing to pay more for their next home. I listened very closely to my friend and the plight of selling that Aurora house in a community where a former mayor, city attorney’s and council people once boasted living and the message was clear. Aurora home ownership as it pertains to value retention, is a bad investment.

      1. Ashley,
        Sorry your friend fell for the normal buyer-seller-agent in asking price, willing to pay, versus the agent game. That happens in every sale I have ever been involved with in buying or selling of property. Just as my wife agreed to $5,000 reduction at the closing table in 2003 for Aurora rental house. When you get to the table, is when all parties need to have agreed on price, and stick to it.
        Just as my wife was able to get a quick purchase on apartment in Heather – Garden by paying cash, and seller wanted to move to Texas to be near daughter in her last years. That was in 2009, and with new clubhouse and restaurant, that apartment has gained about $10,000 or more, from what asking price was in first place. That is normal practice.
        When wife and I sold house in Ohio in 1980, buyer wanted a 2 car garage built, but knew they could not handled two purchases. So my paperwork showed I built a new, 2 car garage, and they paid more than asking price. Difference (with contract) was set aside in escrow fund, to be paid when garage completed and met city code inspection. And it was. Also my capital gains tax was not predicated on that additional fund, since it showed I expended that to build the garage. If you don’t understand that as normal selling and buying, then you need Economics 101 reviewed.
        Of course their taxes would increase, with additional building on lot, and expenses of inspections, permits, etc. all annotated.

      2. My other post got bit long, but I need to add something. Your friend probably sold for more than they paid for that property, when they bought it. And they owe the house something for the years they lived in it, which the buyer-agent-and they know, so the game goes on. I don’t gamble, but I would wager a coffee, their asking price was more than they expected to receive also, depending on need to move, versus what they will pay for next property.

  6. What a concept, taking money from other projects to perform a necessary function of government. Meanwhile, the Aurora Redundancy Center gets free space, Aurora pays an employee to tell other employees not to waste food, Library builds an Internet cafe at Kmart, and let’s not forget we are restricted on adjusting the size of our police force. Cry me a river, Hogan. Eliminate Library, Recreation, Neighborhood, and Environmental groups, before asking the property owners for more money.

  7. Well, the city could start by cutting the $400,000 for bonuses from the 2015 budget and they could cash-in some of those invested dollars that they never quite seem to touch except to rake in the money those dollars earn. Then they could start trying to be more transparent with what they do with our dollars. I think they forget where the money comes from, but it doesn’t matter to them. They can still go ahead with their projects and sell the debt bypassing the voters and Tabor altogether. Spend, spend, spend and when we run out we’ll ask for more. What a concept!!

    1. Does Aurora’s “traffic engineering” communicate with other cities to orchestrate road repairs?
      They have spring, summer and fall to get on it and get to a good stopping point until winter pass’. Nope, that’s not happening. Now we have to fight bumper to bumper traffic from the east side to the west side for hours on end…..on icy roads now and in addition to everything else.

  9. You gotta love ole clueless Steve Hogan. HA! Poor Tallyn’s Reach. You’re telling us that streets built 10-12 years ago are already falling apart? That tells me the work was shoddy to begin with. For the money they paid to own those houses, Tallyn’s should get good and angry about it.
    This council has no problem making one fiscal blunder after another. Then sticks it’s hand out wanting us to absorb the expense of their ineptitude.
    Do I think there is corruption on council in Aurora? I sure do!
    Let’s look at 2c for example. Council person Cleland spoke of updating old firehouses. Has anyone seen a firehouse in Aurora that’s so run down it needs a make over to the tune of 6 million pronto? No! What I do remember hearing about, was the deal council made with builders, etc., when construction went underway for areas such as Tallyn’s Reach years ago. It had something to do with the builders getting a break on taxes in exchange for building firehouses. As I recall, there aren’t enough of them out there because the builders failed to hold up their end of the deal. Could it be that Aurora needed the 6 million to add a couple more firehouses out east to bring up the safety standard for the populace? Had the voters gone with yes on that one, the newly improved firehouses and story w/pics, would never be covered in this paper. I believe council would have popped a couple of new firehouses out east and as usual for local, state and federal government, they’d count on us to be too stupid to know what we thought we’d paid for, never happened. Thus hosing the firefighters and taxpayers once again.

  10. Denver passes taxes more quickly because their council members actually mobilize their constituents to vote for them, hire advertising firms to educate the people and speak as one voice when it matters. Our council needs to be more intentional in mobilizing and educating our people for growth. Most of the time the mayor is the only voice “stumping” for larger citywide issues.

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