City considers privatizing EMS, sewer rate hike

In response to last week’s alarming audit review, city officials have announced plans to consider contracting Emergency Medical Services (EMS) to a private provider, as well as adjusting sewer rates in hopes of addressing operations that have drained the city of all its cash reserves.
Those two topics highlighted a report by the city’s auditor during the March 24 Aurora City Council meeting (See related ANR report on Page A4), though there was little discussion in open session that evening. City Administrator Adam Darbro provided some detailed thoughts in a later ANR interview, previewing a key discussion scheduled for the April 14 council meeting.
“As I stated in July 2025 upon my appointment, my goals are to provide complete transparency in our finances and operations, while thoroughly reviewing all departments for potential expense reductions,” Darbro said. “Reducing expenses remains our primary focus before considering any increases in rates or reductions in services. We have already begun implementing measures to strengthen the financial stability of our operations.”
Darbro noted that the audit identified ongoing shortfalls within both the sewer fund and EMS operations, each of which plays a critical role in protecting the health and safety of the community. He said he and others continue to diligently explore all aspects of EMS operations — including structure, staffing, and response areas — to identify opportunities for cost reduction while maintaining dependable, high-quality emergency medical services for local residents. 
“One option currently under review is contracting EMS services to a private provider,” he said, sharing information on the city’s newly launched Facebook page which had not previously been made public. “At the April 14 meeting, the city council will consider whether to authorize the mayor to request proposals from private providers. At this stage, we do not know the potential cost of such services, as that information will only become available through the proposal process.”
Local residents may recall that privatizing EMS services was one option considered back in 2019, when the Hamilton County board announced plans to end its ambulance service due to cost concerns. At that time, the city offered to take over EMS operations, a decision which is now being reviewed.
“It is important to emphasize that requesting proposals does not commit the city to transitioning to a private provider,” Darbro noted. “Rather, it ensures that we fully evaluate all available options. It is our responsibility to conduct a thorough review so that any future decisions are well-informed and made in the best interest of our community.”

Sewer fund background
As for financial concerns regarding the city’s sewer operations, Darbro provided a more detailed explanation of how the fund was depleted over the past five years.
“The majority of the shortfall in the sewer fund is the result of a bonded debt service note associated with the expansion of the wastewater treatment plant, which was designed to accommodate discharge volumes from industrial users,” he explained. “However, a portion of a key industrial contributor is no longer operational, leaving the city responsible for absorbing a significantly larger share of that expense. As noted in the audit, adjustments to sewer rates are being evaluated for the upcoming fiscal year to better align revenues with the true cost of operations and debt obligations.”
Darbro said he appreciated the auditor’s detailed presentation of the city’s finances and operations to staff, council members, and the public. 
“We maintain our commitment to providing governmental transparency and fiscal responsibility,” he concluded.

Council reaction
ANR also reached out to each of the six city council members, seeking reaction to the audit and its findings.
“I see our situation as a patient in critical condition who is experiencing multiple organ failure,” said council member Esther Bergen. “A reasonable response by the medical team would be to initiate urgent, intensive, supportive care to maintain organ function while recognizing the underlying causes and then treating them. We as a city are no different. Positive thoughts and good wishes are not going to fix this dire situation. We can’t continue to pursue the same policies and repeat our former actions while expecting different results. To return to a state of health will require an accurate diagnosis and an implementation of sound financial policies.”
Council member Paul Lackore offered detailed thoughts on both the EMS and sewer issues.
“The audit for the city over the past four to five years has been telling us that we have to find a way to fund the deficit of the EMS service or consider other ways to offset cost,” Lackore said. “In the city’s first two years of operating the ambulance service, I felt we were learning how to increase revenue and spending capital to update equipment. The past three years tells us that without increased tax revenue to cover cost, this service has and will continue to overwhelm the city’s resources. 
“That said I remember how strongly the community felt six to seven years ago, when the county was looking at options for EMS service,” he continued. “There was a strong voice to keep it a public service and ran locally. Our audit for the past three years has said we either need a sales tax or a way to remove the burden from the tax base. I know the city will consider contracting with a private provider if it makes financial sense. My concern is that a private company could terminate a contract and leave the community in a worse position than we are in now. My hope is that the community will reconsider a sales tax that designates public safety, and possibly another specific objective such as economic development or infrastructure, to cover the shortfall of EMS.”
Bergen shared her perspective on the sales tax issue, noting that the city’s auditor pointed out that Aurora is the only community in Nebraska of similar size that doesn’t have a sales tax.
“On the surface, to some people, this sounds like we’re missing out on an opportunity for revenue,” she said. “But closer inspection will reveal that our valuations and levy are significantly higher than these same peer communities, enough higher that this balances out the ‘lost revenue’ from the sales tax, with our intake being in the same range as communities with sales tax. Some people might be content with that and think, ‘Oh well, we’re just being taxed in a different way.’ This mindset, however, overlooks the fact that our spending is so unrestrained and unsustainable that even with high property taxes we are hovering at a zero balance in our cash reserves. It also disregards the large philanthropic presence in Aurora and the significant investments that are made in the community each year by private money.”
Bergen went on to point out that the average revenue collected via sales tax is approximately $428 per capita, according to the city’s auditor.
“This means that a family of five in those communities pays $2,130 per year in sales tax,” she said. “What about the elderly? A senior citizen couple would be paying $852 per year in sales tax. There is no homestead exemption on sales tax like there is for real estate taxes.”
Council member Dan Bartling responded as well.
“I think we will need to adjust the sewer rates, and of course we are exploring options with EMS and looking at areas where we can save money,” he said. “I know that there is a lot going around about private EMS, but we are just exploring options to see what is available.”
Council member Wayne Roblee, who has been unable to attend the last few council meetings due to health issues, said he is monitoring the discussions.
“I went over the audit report and comments made by the auditor,” Roblee said in an email response. “I also had a discussion about the results with Adam. The problem areas were obvious and anyone who read the report should know the city and other concerned groups have spent a tremendous amount of time addressing these areas. Those who want more detailed information on specific issues should contact Adam for specifics.”
Council members Dick Phillips and Mark Dunn did not respond to requests for comment.
Bergen concluded by saying it’s time for the city to face this challenge and stop the bleeding.
“The majority of citizens of Aurora have made it crystal clear that they will not tolerate higher taxes,” she said. ‘So the option left to us as a council is to reduce expenses. In order to do this, every last expenditure that comes before us must be evaluated. Our habit of rubber stamping funding requests must come to a halt. If we are to right the ship and move us back into a sustainable pattern with a balanced budget, everything will need to be scrutinized and evaluated.
“Since Adam Darbro became city administrator in July of 2025 he has been working diligently to help promote openness and transparency, and to find ways to reduce expenses,” she concluded. “Various administrative changes that he has led have resulted in reductions of at least $175,000. We as a city council must embrace a similar mindset and take thoughtful, decisive action and correct our spending so that it is in line with our revenue.”