By Jason Crane
The Aurora City Council is considering an Ordinance amending and adding several sections of the Code of Ordinances of the City of Aurora pertaining to the disclosure of economic interests, campaign contributions, lobbying, and the use of City property and the City seal.
Several members of the Council expressed concerns and frustration with the proposal, stating they already follow State laws and DuPage County rules and ethics. In addition, stricter rules and increased disclosures would deter residents from running for alderman or mayor.
City of Aurora government documents show the purpose is to modernize and consolidate the City of Aurora’s ethics framework by strengthening disclosure requirements, establishing clearer limits on campaign contributions, and clarifying restrictions on lobbying and political fundraising.
Over the past several decades, Illinois law and local practice regarding ethics, transparency, and campaign finance have evolved significantly. The City’s existing ordinances on economic interest disclosure, campaign contributions, and outside employment were drafted in an era when public access to information was limited, and disclosure requirements were narrower.
Recent amendments to the Illinois Governmental Ethics Act, the Election Code, and related statutes have expanded state-level disclosure requirements, imposed stricter limits on gifts and contributions, and provided greater public access to filings through online platforms. Meanwhile, the City’s existing ordinances retained provisions that are duplicative, outdated, or inconsistent with modern practice.
In response, the Mayors Office and Legal Team has reviewed Aurora’s ethics code with the aim of eliminating redundancy, closing gaps in local oversight, and ensuring that City officers, employees, and candidates are held to high standards of transparency and accountability. The proposed omnibus ordinance reflects the outcome of that review.
The omnibus ordinance introduces several significant reforms.
First, the provisions on Disclosure of Economic Interests and Campaign Finances (Sec. 2-185) expand local obligations beyond State law by requiring covered persons to disclose outside employment, real estate holdings, entity ownership, involvement in City-funded organizations, and the receipt of gifts or debt forgiveness exceeding $150.
These disclosures must be filed electronically each year by January 31, with newly covered persons required to submit their initial filings within 15 days.
To enhance accountability, the information will be published online, and penalties are established for late, incomplete, or false reporting.
Second, the ordinance strengthens Campaign Contribution Regulations (Secs. 15-320 to 15-322) by incorporating State campaign finance limits while imposing stricter local standards.
Contributions of more than $1,500 from entities doing or seeking business with the City, as well as from lobbyists or their clients, are prohibited.
In addition, the ordinance treats affiliated entities and reimbursed contributions as a single donor for enforcement purposes. Violations may result in penalties and disqualification from doing business with the City.
Third, the section on Regulation of Lobbyists (Sec. 15-321) bars lobbyists and entities in which they hold ownership interests from making direct or in-kind contributions to City officers, candidates, or their committees.
Finally, the ordinance addresses the Regulation of City Property and the City Seal (Sec. 15-354) by broadly defining City property to include buildings, equipment, intellectual property, uniforms, insignia, and employee time. It prohibits unauthorized use of these resources for political purposes, while providing limited exceptions for incidental uses of the City seal and for announcing candidacies outside of City facilities.
IMPACT STATEMENT:
City government of Aurora documents state approval of this ordinance should enhance transparency and accountability for elected officials, employees, and candidates while reducing duplication with state reporting requirements by streamlining local obligations into a single electronic process. It will also provide residents with easier online access to disclosures, ensuring greater public oversight. In addition, the ordinance establishes clear and enforceable limits on contributions from contractors, lobbyists, and other regulated entities, and safeguards City resources and intellectual property from misuse in political activities.
•Final approval could be made as soon as the March 10 Aurora City Council meeting.