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TO: Mayor John Laesch
FROM: Brian W. Caputo, Chief Operating Officer
DATE: November 2, 2026
SUBJECT:
A Resolution Authorizing Supplemental Funding for the 2026 Fiestas Patrias Celebration
PURPOSE:
To provide supplemental funding for the 2026 Fiestas Patrias Celebration, whose initially authorized funding proved to be inadequate.
BACKGROUND:
Through the adoption of Resolution R26-186, dated July 28, 2026, the City Council approved a license for the Aurora Civic Center Authority (ACCA) to produce the city's 2026 Fiestas Patrias celebration. The license provided for ACCA to, among other things, market, sell tickets, book performers, and stage the event. Under the terms of the license, ACCA was not to incur a profit or loss for the event. The city was to reimburse ACCA for the amount of any loss.
Resolution R26-186 and the city's 2026 budget provide $80,000 to cover any loss incurred by the Fiestas Patrias celebration.
DISCUSSION:
The attached financial summary (show sheet) indicates that the 2026 Fiestas Patrias celebration incurred a loss of $216,036.64. Thus, to comply with the terms of the license, a payment to ACCA of $136,036.64 is necessary beyond the $80,000 that the City Council originally authorized.
The payment to ACCA is partially offset by the following sponsorships provided to the event.
Sponsorships from Ward Projects Funds $ 2,250
Sponsorships from External Sources $47,650
Total Sponsorships $49,900
Originally, $80,000 was budgeted in account no. 215-1607-450.50-57 in 2026 to support Fiestas Patrias. An additional $136,100 has been transferred into that same account to cover the requested supplemental funding.
IMPACT STATEMENT:
If the City Council does not adopt the resolution and the City does not pay the supplemental amount, the City will violate the terms of the license pertaining to ACCA's production of the 2026 Fiestas Patrias celebration.
RECOMMENDATIONS:
That the Aurora City Council adopt the attached resolution that would provide supplemental funding for the 2026 Fiestas Patrias celebration.
cc: Finance Committee
CITY OF AURORA, ILLINOIS
RESOLUTION NO. _________
DATE OF PASSAGE ________________
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A Resolution Authorizing Supplemental Funding for the 2026 Fiestas Patrias Celebration
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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, on July 28, 2026, the Aurora City Council approved Resolution No. R26-186, which authorized a license with the Aurora Civic Center Authority ("the Authority") to produce the 2026 Fiestas Patrias celebration ("the Event"), and
WHEREAS, the license associated with Resolution No. R26-186 requires that the City of Aurora ("the City") reimburse the Authority for any financial loss sustained by the Event, and
WHEREAS, Resolution No. R26-186 and the 2026 City of Aurora Budget provide $80,000 to cover any financial loss incurred by the Event, and
WHEREAS, the Event incurred an actual loss of $216,036.64, and
WHEREAS, supplemental funding of $136,036.64 is necessary to reimburse the Authority for the full amount of the loss incurred by the Event; and
WHEREAS, the City has sufficient resources on hand in its Gaming Tax Fund to provide the needed supplemental funding.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the City Council of the City of Aurora, Illinois, as follows: the City Treasurer is authorized to pay an additional $136,036.64 to the Aurora Civic Center Authority to fully reimburse the Authority for the financial loss incurred by the 2026 Fiestas Patrias celebration.