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Proposed city budget preserves high-priority services, reduces spending
March 8, 2011
Contact: Kelly Corsette, Communications & Public Affairs
Officer, (480) 312-2336
Proposed city budget preserves
high-priority services, reduces spending
The City of Scottsdale’s proposed budget for next fiscal year preserves high-priority services while reducing spending by $16 million from the previous year.
The proposed budget was unveiled last week and will be the subject of seven public meetings prior to final adoption by the City Council, scheduled for June 7. The 2011-12 fiscal year begins July 1.
At $209 million, Scottsdale’s proposed general fund budget would be at its lowest level since FY 2005/6 – $44 million less than actual spending just two years ago. There are reductions in every division, and several division budgets are reduced by 10 percent or more. The largest dollar reductions are in the largest divisions: Community Services, Community & Economic Development and the Police Department.
The budget supports general fund staffing of 1,959 full-time equivalent positions (FTEs), a reduction of 94 from last year and the lowest level since before FY 2005/06, when 260 FTEs were added to form a municipal fire department. The greatest reductions are in Community Services and Community & Economic Development, but personnel reductions are proposed in 10 divisions citywide.
“Even with significant spending reductions, Scottsdale residents will still enjoy excellent municipal services,” says City Manager David Richert. “Public safety services will be unaffected, clean and safe water will still be there when you need it and first rate parks, recreation programs and libraries will still contribute to a high quality of life.”
Budget reductions reflect a combined balancing approach that includes enhancing existing revenues and reducing personnel costs, funding of city partners and some enhanced services. Some specific cost-reduction items proposed are increasing the amount employees pay for spouse and dependent health coverage, ending the Palomino Library agreement with Scottsdale Unified School District, reducing hours at some other city libraries, closing the Loloma Transit Station and reducing the Scottsdale Cultural Council’s contract by five percent.
In a memo to the City Council, Richert said the proposed budget “reflects the work of dedicated and professional staff providing their best input on where to make reductions. The final document, of course, must also reflect feedback from the community, boards and commissions and the City Council. Staff looks forward to gathering that feedback in the weeks ahead.”
Over the next several months, the proposed budget will be discussed in detail at a number of meetings where public comment is welcome. All of the meetings below will be in the City Hall Kiva Forum, 3939 N. Drinkwater Blvd., and will be telecast live and online on Scottsdale CityCable 11:
- Budget Review Commission: 5 p.m. Thursday, March 17
Subjects: Community Services; Community & Economic Development - Budget Review Commission: 5 p.m. Thursday, March 31.
Subjects: Public Safety; Water Resources - Budget Review Commission: 5 p.m. Thursday, April 14.
Subject: Administrative offices - Budget Review Commission: 5 p.m. Thursday, April 28.
Subject: Develop commission recommendations - Joint meeting of the City Council and Budget Review Commission: 5 p.m. Tuesday, May 10.
Subject: Budget Review Commission presents recommendations to the City Council - City Council: 5 p.m. Tuesday, May 17.
Subject: First public hearing; tentative budget adoption - City Council: 5 p.m. Tuesday, June 7.
Subject: Second public hearing; final budget adoption
The proposed budget can be reviewed in its entirety at www.scottsdaleaz.gov/finance.
Residents with questions or comments about the proposed budget can e-mail budget@scottsdaleaz.gov.
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