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Aurora leaders hear police chief’s plan as budget cuts would eliminate 35 positions
Summary
Chief Matt Thomas presented Aurora’s proposed 2026 police budget, describing 2025 gains and arguing cuts are temporary; staff outlined $5.4 million in decrements and elimination of 35 positions mostly by vacancy or attrition, drawing detailed questions from aldermen about public-safety impacts.
Chief Matt Thomas told the Finance Committee on Nov. 13 that Aurora’s police department has made “significant milestones” in 2025 and laid out four priorities for 2026: preserve core services, retain staff, modernize technology and formalize community feedback.
Thomas said an internal staffing study confirmed Aurora’s patrol is appropriately staffed at about 150 officers and recommended adding specialized sworn and non‑sworn roles. Deputy Chief Steve Stemmit presented budget detail showing an approximate 7% increase in the department’s 2026 budget overall, but staff also identified about $5,400,000 in decrements that would eliminate 35 positions through a mix of vacancies (about 20), attrition and one layoff.
Stemmit said the decrements are grouped by impact. Smaller reductions…
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