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Committee declines to take positions on state ballot measures and South Metro fire tax increase
Summary
Aurora’s Policy & Finance Committee reviewed two state ballot measures related to Healthy School Meals funding and a South Metro Fire District property tax measure, ultimately agreeing not to take committee positions before the election.
Aurora City staff briefed the Policy & Finance Committee on two state ballot measures related to Healthy School Meals funding and a county-level measure from South Metro Fire District, and the committee decided not to forward any position to full council before Election Day.
Liz (staff member) summarized Proposition LL—tied to a state bill she referenced as the authorizing statute—and described it as a measure that would allow the state to retain excess revenues collected for the Healthy School Meals for All program to fund that program. She told the committee the measures originated in the legislature and that a council position would need study-session review and a full council majority vote to be official. "If we want to do, as a city, a position on a state ballot measure, that needs to be done and voted on by a majority of council with a majority of council approval," Liz said.
Committee members expressed a range of views. Council member Jurinski said she was personally opposed to both state measures and noted she had a child who benefits from school meals, but she argued it was too late to influence the election: "By the time we take this to the full council, take a position, Election Day has come and gone." Council member Hancock called the Healthy School Meals measures "a tax increase no matter how you slice it" and said she opposed the measures. Mayor Kaufman suggested the committee focus on matters that directly affect municipal operations but also agreed it was late in the election cycle to act.
Liz also reported that South Metro Fire District decided to seek a property tax increase of 12.25 mills rather than a sales tax. Mayor Kaufman said he had urged South Metro to consider a sales tax rather than property tax and recommended the committee take a neutral position; other committee members agreed the late timing made taking a city position impractical. "Okay. We're not gonna take a position on any of these," the chair concluded.
The committee did not issue a formal recommendation to full council before the election and staff said they would not advance positions to the study-session process at this time.
