Strategic Planning

The City of Aurora is located approximately 36 miles west of Chicago, Illinois, on the Fox River. The city extends into Kane, DuPage, Kendall, and Will Counties and spans 46 square miles. The city provides a full range of municipal services, to include public safety, roadway maintenance, refuse disposal, public improvements, planning and zoning, engineering and inspection, water and sewer utility service, youth and certain other social services, and general administrative services. Several municipal parks, a zoo, and a golf course are among its many amenities. The city government consists of 1,207.50 full-time equivalent employees. The equalized value of property in Aurora was $5.9 billion as of 2024. Major tax generators in the city include the Fox Valley Mall, the Chicago Premium Outlet Mall, and Hollywood Casino. The city's 2026 expenditure budget is $688 million. The general fund expenditure budget is $254 million. To balance the 2026 general fund budget, the city's administration had to reduce expenditures by approximately $30 million. This required staff reductions. The city's Capital Improvement Plan has captured a program of projects that span from 2026 through 2035 and amounts to $810 million. The plan includes the project classifications of downtown, economic development, facilities, municipal airport, neighborhood redevelopment, recreation, stormwater, transportation, and water and sewer. The major issues confronting the city include, but are not limited to, continued downtown redevelopment, maintaining expansive infrastructure networks, and funding substantial post-employment benefit liabilities. John Laesch was elected as the 60th Mayor of the City of Aurora in April 2025. In his first term, Mayor Laesch seeks to build a community that embraces social justice, environmental sustainability, and inclusiveness. Through this request for proposals, Mayor Laesch's administration is seeking a skilled and experienced consultant to assist in establishing a new strategic plan for the city and update its priorities in light of current resident and business needs. To provide additional background information, the city's 2025 strategic plan (including departmental priorities) is attached to this request for proposals. Also, we have attached a Civic Engagement Report. This report reflects input that city officials have received from community stakeholders through recently convened listening and action tours as well as public transition committee meetings. To provide a further appreciation of the Aurora community, a Nonprofit Market Analysis is included.