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Aurora aldermen split over extra funding for Paramount and Stolp Island after ACA budget approval
Summary
Alderman Karl Franco proposed reallocating Transformation Fund money to cover a failing boiler/chiller and extend Stolp Island programming; administration said a $2 million agreement with the Aurora Civic/Arts Alliance had already been negotiated and aldermen requested detailed line-item accounting before moving funds.
A debate over additional funding for downtown arts took center stage at the Nov. 20 Aurora Finance Committee meeting as aldermen weighed whether to supplement a recently negotiated $2 million agreement with the Aurora Civic/Arts Alliance (ACA).
Alderman Karl Franco proposed reallocating $1,420,000 from the Transformation Fund to cover an urgently needed boiler and chiller at the Paramount and to eliminate a reported $600,000 budget shortfall, arguing the Paramount and Stolp Island Theater are economic engines for downtown. "I would propose that we take $1,420,000 from the transformation fund ... and give it to ACA," Franco said.
Shannon Cameron, chief of staff, and administration officials said they had negotiated a separate $2 million agreement with ACA during budget deliberations and urged caution before revising that figure. Cameron said part of ACAs reported deficit reflects non-cash depreciation and that ACA would start the year with approximately $1.7 million cash on hand. Administration officials asked for precise documentation and recommended the ACA treasurer attend a future meeting to present line-item needs.
Alderman Patty Smith warned the committee that downtown restaurants already suffered a $1 million loss from cancellation of the BOLD series and urged the council to consider downtown economic impacts before reducing arts support. Several aldermen agreed more detailed information and an ACA presentation would be appropriate before altering the administrations negotiated commitment.
The committee did not change the administrations plan during the meeting; members asked staff to gather grant documentation and detailed ACA budget items for follow-up discussion at Committee of the Whole.
Next steps: administration will provide requested grant breakdowns and ACA leaders or the treasurer have been invited to brief aldermen at a future meeting; the budget and any amendments will advance to Committee of the Whole on Dec. 2.
