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Council adopts 2025 spring supplemental, pauses courthouse security expansion for further review
Summary
The council approved the 2025 spring supplemental appropriation with several additions and technical adjustments but removed approval of a $5.5 million courthouse security expansion pending further review; the package adds staff in key departments and initial funding for courthouse ADA and design work.
Aurora’s City Council approved the 2025 spring supplemental ordinance on Monday, adopting final adjustments for fiscal year 2024 and initial appropriations for 2025 while excluding one large courthouse security project for additional review.
Budget staff said the 2024 adjustments were largely technical or offset by one‑time savings. For 2025 the supplemental adds three full‑time positions: one in Finance, one in Human Resources (to support the new paid time off policy) and one assistant city attorney to expand litigation capacity. The supplemental also funds Aurora Water cybersecurity positions shared across water and wastewater funds.
Court administration requested three capital project supplements totaling about $6.5 million for courthouse upgrades: design and engineering, ADA restroom updates and a major security expansion that includes new fire alarm control panels and infrastructure upgrades. Court administration said some of the work (design and ADA restroom updates) could be supported by departmental savings, but the larger security expansion — estimated at roughly $5.5 million — is not currently funded and requires further consideration.
Councilmember Gardner pushed for postponing the large security expansion so it could be evaluated in the broader capital‑planning process (Build Aurora). Councilmember Bergen asked whether the fire alarm replacement could be separated and funded as a lower‑cost, safety‑critical project; staff said a separate fire‑alarm project for three buildings could cost about $1 million, while the full security expansion would still total more than $4 million in addition. Staff noted ARPA funds are already fully committed and not available for this work.
Councilmember Coombs moved to approve the supplemental ordinance but exclude Court Administration capital project 3 (the large courthouse security expansion). The motion passed by a recorded vote of 9–1 (Councilmember Jurinski cast the lone no vote). Councilmembers instructed staff to work with court administration to refine options for the security proposal and to consider the project in upcoming capital planning discussions.
The supplemental also includes one‑time funding to support courthouse ADA work and design/engineering for broader courthouse improvements, new cybersecurity positions for Aurora Water, and operational adjustments tied to the city’s adoption of the new paid time off policy.
