Aurora Community Services Levy Referendum: Effects on Local Resident Support Programs

Voters in Aurora will decide on a ballot measure this November that proposes a 0.25 percent increase in the local sales tax to fund community services. The referendum, designated Measure C, would apply to most retail purchases within city limits and generate revenue for social programs administered by the Aurora Department of Human Services.

The measure follows the city council's June 2026 vote to place it on the ballot after review of the 2025 Community Needs Assessment. That document recorded a 12 percent rise in requests for emergency housing assistance compared with the prior year, with the largest share coming from households in the 80010 and 80011 zip codes.

How Revenue Would Reach Aurora Residents

Under the proposal, 60 percent of the new funds would support mental health mobile teams operated by Aurora Mental Health Center. Another 25 percent would go to short-term rental assistance administered through the city's housing authority. The remaining share would cover administrative costs and data tracking required by the ordinance. City budget documents project the tax would raise $2.3 million in its first full year.

Local households using existing services would see the most immediate changes. Residents currently on waiting lists for senior meal deliveries or youth after-school programs could gain access to additional slots if the measure passes. The legislation states that funds must be spent within Aurora city boundaries and cannot replace existing general fund allocations for these programs.

Next Steps for Implementation

If approved, the tax increase would take effect January 1, 2027. The city treasurer's office would begin monthly transfers to the designated service providers starting in February. An annual public report on expenditures would be required under the measure and posted on the city's website by March 31 each year. The referendum language sets a five-year sunset unless renewed by voters.