AURORA | If Aurora moves forward with becoming a city-county, city officials will still have to persuade voters locally and statewide that the effort is worthwhile.
At a study session Monday night, Aurora City Council agreed 6-2 to present the final findings from a year-and-a-half-long study conducted by TischlerBise on whether Aurora should become a city-county to local residents. Council members Renie Peterson and Debi Hunter Holen voted against the measure. Council members Molly Markert and Sally Mounier were absent.
Depending on feedback from local residents, council could put the city and county question on a future ballot.
That study showed Aurora as a city and county could close a revenue gap in 20 years through duplicating roles in city departments and functions currently provided by overlapping counties, and by contracting with Arapahoe County for jail space. The study also showed that expected cost savings would not only close that revenue gap, but put Aurora in the black and eventually provide a revenue surplus — in theory.
“As a city, we lose out on many things because we’re in three counties,” said Aurora Mayor Steve Hogan, a longtime advocate for Aurora making the switch. “We’ve lost out on the extension of Sixth Avenue for years because it wasn’t the highest priority of Araphoe County. We can’t get it done locally, we can’t get it done through DRCOG (Denver Regional Council of Governments) , and we can’t get it done through CDOT (Colorado Department of Transportation).”
Aurora City Councilwoman Barb Cleland, who has long been on the fence about the city-county issue, agreed with Hogan that Aurora will face increasing obstacles as it grows and negotiates its future as part of three counties–Arapahoe, Adams, and Douglas.
Cleland pointed to Aurora’s ongoing battle for tax dollars with counties over city development projects that use tax increment financing.
“Denver and Broomfield don’t have to deal with those issues. Those are going to be huge issues politically that we’re going to be dealing with,” she said.
Some council members said they didn’t see the point if Aurora was going to contract with Arapahoe County for a jail.
“One argument to move forward to be a city-county was the jail issue,” said City Councilman Bob LeGare referring to the controversial inmate cap outgoing Adams County Sheriff Doug Darr imposed on Aurora’s municipal inmates. “What if we end up in the exact same situation, where we have a sheriff in Arapahoe County like we do in Adams County?”
Hogan said even a scenario where the city forms a county and contracts with Arapahoe County for jail space would be better than what the city is doing now.
“Any way you look at the financial picture, we’re screwed,” Hogan said. “We’re the third largest city in the state and we can’t take advantage of resources that cities like Brighton, Greenwood Village, Lakewood, Longmont, Grand Junction, can all take advantage of. The only answer (for why) I keep coming back to is our legal status.”
The earliest an Aurora city-county could be formed would be 2021, according to Hogan. The state legislature would have to agree to ask voters in the 2016 General Election whether they want to amend the Colorado Constitution and turn Aurora into a city and county.
“That’s more than half a decade from now and we’re still going to have to put up with things we’re putting up with now,” he said.
City staff have budgeted $150,000 in 2015 to move forward with education and outreach efforts on the issue.
“People assume their taxes will go up to pay for this,” said Councilwoman Marsha Berzins. “That’s a talking point we need to have … That’s one of the first questions we’re going to get.”
Proud of Hogan. ……making decisions because when Oates was around he use his authority and intimidated Hogan and his staff.
Good Mayor Hogan, it’s was your City all along.
I believe Charlie Richardson now works for the mayor, so I’m expecting a run at higher office soon. Maybe that’s who you should be praising.
I prefer Aurora not have complete control over my life…