AURORA — The Aurora City Council tonight came to a tentative agreement with the police union to reduce the police staffing mandate, a deal that could save the city $40 million over the next 10 years.
The deal is contingent on Aurora Police Association union members signing off on it.
At a special meeting, the council scrapped a November ballot measure that would have asked for a property tax increase to help pay for new police hires.
Union members have until the end of business on Wednesday to ratify the new proposal, otherwise the tax hike is back on the ballot.
APA president Mark Finnin said he talked to union members over the past few days and “we’ve had overriding support” for the new proposal.
“I am confident our membership will do the right thing,” Finnin said after tonight’s meeting.
The council voted to lower a requirement that the city must hire two police officers for every 1,000 residents. If approved by the union, the ratio will decrease to 1.6 officers.
That would save $40 million by the end of 2021. After that, the ratio would go up to 1.9 officers for every 1,000 residents. The council also voted to keep minimum police staffing levels at 658, the expected number for 2012.
If the union votes against it, however, the property tax hike would go to voters in November. But unlike the previous ballot issue approved by the council Monday, a quarter-cent sales tax that currently pays for the two-per-1,000 would remain in place.
Councilwoman Melissa Miller commended the APA for working with the city in these tough economic times.
“We appreciate them recognizing the budget crunch we are in,” Miller said.
Police Chief Dan Oates agreed.
“I’m very pleased the APA was able to work something out with the council that I know will work,” Oates said.
The APA had threatened to take the city to court to block the ballot measure. The union was concerned because it would have done away with the accompanying quarter-cent sales tax after two years. That tax raises between $9 million to $10 million annually for public safety.
Aurora voters in 1993 approved a quarter-cent sales tax for police. But in recent years, the city found itself having to pay about $6 million annually from its general fund for what the sales tax didn’t cover.
Carlos Illescas: 303-954-1175 or cillescas@denverpost.com
