Aurora’s councilmembers seek to spend about $150 million more next year, which includes additional money for public safety.

The council plans to adopt the city’s 2024 proposed budget — which sits at $1.3 billion, $152 million more than this year’s spending plan — later this month.

The largest share of the general fund dollars is earmarked for public safety-related departments.

Councilmembers proposed a budget of $86.3 million for Aurora Fire Rescue, an increase of more than $3 million from the 2023 budget.

The funding adds a civilian “community educator” position for planning, preparing and presenting programs of instruction intended to reduce community risk, educate, and inform the public to increase fire and life safety. The money will also continue to fund psychological services for department members to address mental health needs, according to a budget presentation.

Aurora Police Department, meanwhile, is poised to get $155.8 million, some $10 million more than this year’s budget of $142.2 million.

Funding for the city’s budget comes largely from taxes, proceeds from borrowing, and charges from services, according to the city manager’s proposed budget presentation. Sales tax revenue accounts for 58% of the city’s general fund dollars, which sits at roughly $500 million. Property tax makes up an additional 11%. The last time the sales tax was increased was in 1993.

Most of the proposed increase is in the general fund, which, if approved, will see $33.4 million more. The general fund makes up about 39% of the $1.3 billion budget. Water and wastewater operating and capital make up an additional 41%.

All told, the general fund dollars, which go to police, fire, public works, parks, recreation and open space, add up to $508.8 million.

The city also has a five-year capital improvement plan, which earmarks $1.9 billion toward longer-term improvements.

Aurora has seen improvements in staff turnover rates in the past year, as well as an increase in hiring, according to the budget proposal, which includes funding for pay and benefit increases for all employees across all departments. City officials said that funding will help draw candidates to apply for vacancies across city departments.

Other spending includes money to expand the Aurora Mobile Response Team program under the Housing and Community Services. The program partners mental health clinicians with paramedics to respond to people undergoing a mental health crises.

The City Attorney’s budget, meanwhile, includes funding for victims advocates to meet a state legislative requirement that domestic violence cases heard in Aurora Municipal Court comply with the Victims’ Rights Act.

Residents can view the proposed 2024 budget on the city’s website.

The council will tackle the budget on Nov. 27.