Aurora voters reject all three bonds, leaving city with $50,000 annual bridge budget

Aurora voters rejected all three measures in the Build Up Aurora bond package on Election Day, leaving the city without a dedicated revenue source for major infrastructure repairs. Measure 3B, which focused on police and fire station upgrades, received the strongest opposition, with 60% of voters casting ballots against it. More than half of the electorate turned down every item on the ballot.

The last time Aurora residents approved a similar bond package was more than 30 years ago. Since then, the city has struggled to maintain aging structures. Councilmember Curtis Gardner noted that the current annual maintenance budget for bridges is only $50,000. He described this figure as inadequate for a city of Aurora's size.

The Peoria Street bridge replacement was a central part of the failed proposal. A city spokesperson stated that leaders had pursued federal grant money for that specific project but had not yet received an award. The construction costs for the new bridge were planned to come from the rejected bond funds.

Community organizer Caitlin Trent suggested that ballot language played a role in the results. She noted that critics argued the safety bond would fund mass surveillance technology, specifically Flock cameras, for the Aurora Police Department. Trent said the high failure rate of Measure 3B indicated a lack of trust in how the city would handle public safety funds.

With the bond measures defeated, projects identified through community engagement will return to the city's capital projects planning process. Officials must now prioritize these items against rising costs and aging infrastructure. Gardner said that a vast majority of the projects listed as over 65 in the Build Up Aurora plan will not happen for many years.

City leaders will continue to look for other funding tools to secure money for projects on the capital improvement master plan. Gardner emphasized that finding new sources of funding is critical to address gaps in fire station coverage, road widening needs, and bridges past their useful life. He added that it could be years before another bond package appears on the ballot.

Trent said many of the proposed projects are likely needed. She advised the city to figure out how to meet the community where it is and bring residents along in the process. The outcome leaves Aurora with a long-term financial challenge as it seeks to fund vital repairs without a dedicated bond levy.