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TO: Mayor John Laesch
FROM: Stacey L. Peterson, Chief Financial Officer/City Treasurer
DATE: August 31, 2026
SUBJECT:
An Ordinance Amending the Annual Budget for the Fiscal Year Beginning January 1, 2026 and Ending December 31, 2026 (Amendment #8 for the 2026 Fiscal Year).
PURPOSE:
To obtain the City Council’s approval of a proposed amendment to the 2026 City Budget.
BACKGROUND:
Pursuant to 65 ILCS 5/8-2-9.1 through 9.10, the City of Aurora operates under the budget system of government finance. The City Council adopted the 2026 budget on December x, 2025 through the passage of Ordinance No. O25-0xx.
While the city attempts to anticipate all potential expenditures for a fiscal year when that year’s budget is developed, circumstances occasionally arise that require expenditures that were not contemplated in the original financial plan. 65 ILCS 5/8-2-9.6 permits a municipality operating under the budget system to amend its annual budget by a two third’s vote of its governing body.
DISCUSSION:
The attached, proposed ordinance, including its Exhibit A, would provide for certain changes in the 2026 City Budget. Below is an explanation for each change. The item numbers discussed below correspond to the item numbers assigned to each change detailed in Exhibit A.
Zero Impact Item: Position Change- Downtown Services- Maintenance Worker I to a Horticulturist I. No financial impact. The Horticulturist I position aligns with the division's needs.
Zero Impact Item: Position Change- Information Technology- Convert the vacant Director of IT Operations to a City Fiber Network Manager. No financial impact. The role will support the city's fiber network.
Zero Impact Item: Position Change- Information Technology- Convert the vacant Security Analyst to an Information Security Manager. No financial impact. This role plays a critical part in protecting our organization by monitoring security operations.
Items 1 and 16: Grant and Professional Fees, General Fund (Offsetting Revenue and Expenditure Increase of $27,000). These items adjust the budget for a grant from CFE for the Small Business Boost Grant.
Items 2, 17 and 18: Grant State Other, General Fund (Offsetting Revenue and Expenditure Increase of $3,578,000). These items adjust the budget for a grant from the State of Illinois Community Development Block Grant for the Mutual Ground Urban Shelter Program which was approved by City Council Resolution No. R26-079 and a grant from the State of Illinois Community Development Block Grant for Hesed House Urban Shelter Expansion Program which was approved by City Council Resolution No. R25-341.
Items 3 and 19: Special Programs, Community Services, General Fund (Offsetting Revenue and Expenditure Increase of $471,600). Community Service is using the Opioid Use Disorder Grants 26-0066
Items 4 and 20: Furniture/Fixtures GAR, General Fund (Offsetting Revenue and Expenditure Increase of $42,000). These items provide for use of a grant received from the Institute of Museum and Library Services to provide funding for storage systems to be installed in the GAR.
Items 5 and 21: Other Special Programs, Youth Services, General Fund (Offsetting Revenue and Expenditure Increase of $50,000). These items provide for acceptance of the Youth Climate Action grant. The grant will provide microgrants for youth-led climate initiatives with no required local match.
Items 6, 22 and 23: Special Programs, Youth Services, General Fund (Offsetting Revenue and Expenditure Increase of $227,000). These items provide for acceptance of $20,000 towards a sponsorship for VALEES for the illuminate Career Exploration Event and $207,000 for multiple youth opportunities approved by city council Resolution No. R26-181.
Items 7, 24 through 27: Professional Fees and Supplies General, Animal Care and Control, General Fund (Offsetting Revenue and Expenditure Increase of $20,000). Animal Care and Control received two grants in the amount of $10,000 each. One is from VCA Charities Ready to Rescue Grant. This grant will be used for a professional trainer and program equipment to enhance the adoptability for shelter dogs. The other is a grant from ASPCA -The Rescue Effect Campaign Grant which will be used to support adoption related make ready costs.
Items 8, 32 and 33: Overtime and Equipment, Police Department, General Fund (Offsetting Revenue and Expenditure Increase of $24,000). These items adjust the budget for the FY26 Illinois Attorney General Organized Retail Crime Grant. This grant will be used for equipment and overtime reimbursements.
Items 9, 40 and 41: Construction, Community Development, General Fund (Offsetting Revenue and Expenditure Increase of $2,000,000). This is from the State of Illinois Community Block Grant for the Healthy Houses Program which was approved by City Council Resolution No. R25-320.
Items 10 and 45: Repairs & Mtce. Services, Electrical Division, Capital Improvement Fund (Offsetting Revenue and Expenditure Increase of $211,400). These items adjust the budget for a grant from the US Department of Energy (DOE) Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant Program through the Office of State and Community Energy Programs. This grant will be used to install electric vehicle chargers at APD, Garfield Park, and the downtown parking garage.
Items 11, 12 and 46: Professional Fees/ Engineering/Surveying, Airport Fund (Offsetting Revenue and Expenditure Increase of $400,400). These items adjust for the Airfield Geometry Study and Airport Layout Plan update associated with the decommission of Runway 18/36. The cost of $400,400 represents the total project cost and the city will be reimbursed 97.5% through grant funding.
Items 13, 14 and 48: Capital Improvement /Water-Line Rehab., Water and Sewer Production, Water and Service Fund (Offsetting Revenue and Expenditure Increase of $2,465,000). This is an IEPA loan for the lead service replacement project in the amount of $2,465,000. $200,000 is for an intergovernmental agreement between Kane County and the City for replacement of lead water services located on Solfisburg Avenue between Farnsworth Avenue and Crane Avenue.
Item 15: Supplies-Repairs Equipment Radios, Information Technology, General Fund (Expenditure Increase of $244,500). This item provides for the purchase of public safety radio network equipment from L3Harris.
Items 28 through 31: Salaries and Benefits, Building & Permits, General Fund (Expenditure Increase of $57,700). This is to adjust the budget to add one Plan Examiner and one Combination Inspector. Both positions are needed to satisfy the current demand for Building and Permits division's services. The costs will be offset by higher than expected building permit revenues.
Item 34: Employee Benefits/Pension/IMRF, Street Maintenance, General Fund (Expenditure Increase of $365,000). This item adjusts the budget to correct the amount of the overtime in the 2026 budget.
Item 35: Grant /Aquatic Subsidy, Parks and Recreation, General Fund (Expenditure Increase of $481,600). This item adjusts the budget per the agreement between the Fox Valley Park District and city dated September 30,1989. Any operating deficits of the jointly owned outdoor aquatic centers are required to be funded equally between the district and city.
Item 36: Repairs & Maintenance Services/Equipment Radios, Information Technology, ETSB (Expenditure Increase of $380,000). This item provides for the purchase of radio equipment, installation services and support from L3Harris radio system utilized by Public Safety and Public Works Department.
Item 37: Repairs & Maintenance Services/Building & Grounds, Information Technology, ETSB (Expenditure Increase of $771,000). This item provides for the purchase of new PSAP consoles that support Windows 11 and new communications tower at 2680 Church Road.
Item 38: Supplies-Computers, Information Technology, ETSB (Expenditure Increase of $872,700). This item provides for the approved lease of APD computers from Dell and Insight Direct.
Item 39: Equipment-Telephones, Information Technology, ETSB (Expenditure Increase of $240,900). This item provides for the correction of the budget for the agreement approved by City Council Resolution No. R26-122.
Item 42 and 44: Repairs & Maintenance/Computers, Police, Various Funds (Expenditure Increase of $446,800). This provides for the replacement cost of UPS devices located at APD, City Hall, Fire Station 8, and Water Production.
Item 43: Repairs & Maintenance Services/Vehicle Setup, Emergency Management, SHAPE (Expenditure Increase of $18,800). This provides for the delayed delivery of the EMA vehicle which was supposed to be delivered in 2025, and it was received in 2026.
Item 47: Supplies-Repairs & Maintenance Services/Building &Grounds, Airport (Expenditure Increase of $41,000). This item provides for the salt storage building which was budgeted for in 2025 and was not delivered until May 2026.
Item 49: Professional Fees/Technical Assistance, Water Billing, Water and Sewer (Expenditure Increase of $14,700). This item provides for the relocation costs associated with moving the antenna used for reading water meters on the new Church Road tower.
IMPACT STATEMENT:
N/A
RECOMMENDATIONS:
That the City Council adopt the attached, proposed ordinance that would effect Amendment #8 to the 2026 City Budget.
cc: Finance Committee
CITY OF AURORA, ILLINOIS
ORDINANCE NO. _________
DATE OF PASSAGE ________________
title
An Ordinance Amending The Annual Budget For The Fiscal Year Beginning January 1, 2026 and Ending December 31, 2026 (Amendment #8 For The 2026 Fiscal Year).
body
WHEREAS, the City of Aurora has a population of more than 25,000 persons and is, therefore, a home rule unit under subsection (a) of Section 6 of Article VII of the Illinois Constitution of 1970; and
WHEREAS, subject to said Section, a home rule unit may exercise any power and perform any function pertaining to its government and affairs for the protection of the public health, safety, morals, and welfare; and
WHEREAS, the City Council approved Ordinance No. O99-96 on November 9, 1999 adopting the budget system of finance for the City in lieu of the appropriation system in accordance with 65 ILCS 5/8-2-9.1 et. seq. and Code Section 2-312(a); and
WHEREAS, the City Council approved Ordinance No. O25-095 on December 9, 2025 adopting an annual budget for the City of Aurora for the fiscal year beginning January 1, 2026 and ending December 31, 2026; and
WHEREAS, the City Council approved Ordinance No. O26-006 on February 24, 2026 amending the annual budget for fiscal year beginning January 1, 2026 and ending December 31, 2026 (Amendment #1 (Ward 6) for the 2026 Fiscal Year), and
WHEREAS, the City Council approved Ordinance No. O26-007 February 24, 2026 amending the annual budget for fiscal year beginning January 1, 2026 and ending December 31, 2026 (Amendment #2 (Ward 10) for the 2026 Fiscal Year), and
WHEREAS, the City Council approved Ordinance No. O26-008 February 24, 2026 amending the annual budget for fiscal year beginning January 1, 2026 and ending December 31, 2026 (Amendment #3 (Ward 4) for the 2026 Fiscal Year), and
WHEREAS, the City Council approved Ordinance No. O26-017 March 10, 2026 amending the annual budget for fiscal year beginning January 1, 2026 and ending December 31, 2026 (Amendment #4 (Ward 1) for the 2026 Fiscal Year), and
WHEREAS, the City Council approved Ordinance No. O26-036 May 26, 2026 amending the annual budget for fiscal year beginning January 1, 2026 and ending December 31, 2026 (Amendment #5 (Ward 3) for the 2026 Fiscal Year), and
WHEREAS, the City Council approved Ordinance No. O26-042 June 9, 2026 amending the annual budget for fiscal year beginning January 1, 2026 and ending December 31, 2026 (Amendment #6 (Ward 9) for the 2026 Fiscal Year), and
WHEREAS, the City Council approved Ordinance No. O26-054 August 25, 2026 amending the annual budget for fiscal year beginning January 1, 2026 and ending December 31, 2026 (Amendment #7 (Ward 4) for the 2026 Fiscal Year), and
WHEREAS, the City of Aurora deems that it is necessary to incur certain expenditures during its 2026 fiscal year that were unanticipated at the time the annual budget for 2026 was adopted but are necessary so as to ensure the protection of the public health, safety, morals, and welfare; and
WHEREAS, the City of Aurora, in an exercise of its home rule powers, desires to amend its annual budget for the fiscal year beginning January 1, 2026 and ending December 31, 2026 so as to provide for the incurrence of said expenditures that were unanticipated at the time the annual budget was adopted; and
WHEREAS, adequate monies are available in the City treasury to pay said unanticipated expenditures.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED by the City Council of the City of Aurora, Illinois, as follows:
SECTION 1: That the annual budget of the City of Aurora for the fiscal year beginning January 1, 2026 and ending December 31, 2026 is amended as shown in the attached Exhibit A.
SECTION 2: That this ordinance shall be in full force and effect, and shall be controlling upon its passage and approval.
SECTION 3: That all ordinances or parts of ordinances thereof in conflict herewith are hereby repealed to the extent of any such conflict.
SECTION 4: That any Section or provision of this ordinance that is construed to be invalid or void shall not affect the remaining Sections or provisions, which shall remain in full force and effect thereafter.