AURORA | A new multi-million dollar fire and police training facility and other capital projects around the city are one step closer to being built after receiving initial approval from city council Monday night.
The budget faces a final vote Oct. 28.
Before casting the final votes, council members Barb Cleland and Bob Broom remarked how well the city managed to finalize and compromise on the budget, comments directed to address the current federal budget impasse.
“I just want to note how we didn’t wait until the 11th hour to do this,” Cleland said.
“I also want to add how we’re not borrowing or printing the money,” Broom said.
Earlier in the evening the council approved a water tap fee revision that would reduce connection fees for most residential builders, but could exponentially raise prices for heavier commercial users. The measure passed 8-2, with council members Peterson and Molly Markert voting against the revision.
The tap fee was initially delayed to accommodate Broom, who asked if the revision would negatively impact a large water bottler who recently moved to Aurora. That concern was assuaged after Niagra Drinking Water company agreed to purchase an additional commercial tap before the new fee structure took effect.
Councilwoman Barb Cleland asked aloud if a large water user in Aurora was a good thing.
“I don’t know if I want to do a lower tap fee for a (large water user) because they’re going to use a lot of water,” Cleland said.
Wow, City Council gives developers and builders a 700 million dollar rebate, loses 700 mullion dollars in tap fee revenue, all ” to make Aurora Competitive.”
I agree with the caring citizen that presented a slide show but I am not sure he went far enough.
Do the council members really believe that no one will build houses in Aurora if the tap fee was not reduced $8,000.00/ residential unit?
The City has the largest chip in the game, water, enough water that Council has been able to sell water to a Douglas County Developer, enough water that Council could sell water to two water bottling companies and yet they sit at the table as though they are the short stack. Makes one wonder if they just made a bad bet on Aurora’s revenue future.
Sorry you don’t know what you’re talking about. I listened to the whole story and found the new tap fees are for “service” not water. If your not competitive, you’re out of the game.
The $700m isn’t a rebate. It’s a lower cost for service. Sounds like you’re jealous and uninformed on the facts. Anyone can throw wrong numbers around. Check out the facts!
you sound like a council member.
Gambler, you may be right, only a council member would think water taps fees are not about water.