AURORA | Aurora’s City Council approved roughly $62.45 million in net supplemental appropriations for the 2022 budget on Monday as well 9.5 new full-time positions.
City staffers broke down some of the largest items included in the package for the council, which voted unanimously to pass it on first reading.
Topping the list of appropriations are approximately:
- $25 million in Better Utilizing Infrastructure to Leverage Development grant funds through the U.S. Department of Transportation and $5 million in FASTER grant funds through the state to help build a new interchange at Interstate 70 and Picadilly Road.
- $13.1 million from the city’s general fund to pay off the Stephen D. Hogan Parkway debt, which city staff say will free up $2.4 million annually for transportation maintenance.
- $4.7 million from the city’s general fund for the entirety of IntegrAssure’s contract with the City of Aurora to monitor public safety reforms described in the consent decree between the city and the Colorado Attorney General’s Office.
- $4 million from the general fund in excess of 2021 projections transferred from that fund into the capital projects fund for road maintenance.
Also included are supplemental appropriations for employees:
- $243,103 for two human resources employees to meet the base-level demands of the city.
- $137,677 for a manager of the city-owned street light program.
- $131,527 for two civilian technicians at the Aurora Police Department’s impound unit, as city staff note the department is having a hard time maintaining its staff of sworn officers.
- $84,770 for a position that would support the city’s use of the Accela workflow management software system.
- $33,547 for a licensing officer to address the workload related to legalized marijuana delivery.
- $23,657 to restore a part-time community program specialist position to a full-time position and relabel it as an animal services assistant, as the city’s animal shelter returns to normal operations.
- Using existing grant funds to add one homelessness compliance position to help administer and monitor homelessness projects funded with marijuana sales tax dollars.
- Upgrading two part-time library assistant positions to full-time library clerk positions, the cost of which will be offset by other budget adjustments.
“$137,677 for a manager of the city-owned street light program”
Taxpayers are expected to believe this is some reasonable made-up position? Amazing!
Seems like budget items are “boring” to the citizens of Aurora who make comments to the Sentinel. Did you miss the $4.7 million to pay a Florida firm to give us their opinion on what is wrong with our Police Department demanded by the Colorado Attorney General?
As a citizen of Aurora, I find this offensive, and yes, I know how all this developed and I still find it offensive that the State Attorney General can do this to we citizens.
As a conservative, I wish for smaller government, fewer laws, fewer rules and regulations and much more common sense and intelligent decision by leaders. Then we could have $4.7 million more for roads, education and fire department. Like, you know, real local issues.
#2. Test