Aurora tax rate won't change

Aurora's tax rate will stay the same next year, but you still might pay more in taxes, depending on the value of your home.

City officials will approve a request for tax dollars by Dec. 25. They're asking for $77.8 million in property taxes for 2007, payable in 2008. That's up from last year's request of $73.2 million.

Next year's tax rate is estimated to be $1.91 per $100 of equalized assessed valuation, the same as last year's.

That means the owner of a $200,000 home -- about the median price in Aurora -- will pay about $1,170 for the city portion of their tax bills.

If the value of that $200,000 home increases next year by about 3 percent, the average resident would pay about $1,215.

Even with a flat tax rate, city leaders say they expect to see an extra $4 million generated because of reassessments, annexations and new construction.

The money will help cover expected increases in the city's operating costs next year, they say.