Increases to property taxes and enhanced public safety spending were among the items included in a trial budget presented to City Council on Tuesday.
The trial budget also included increases in employee compensation and a revenue raise of $37 million.
“This trial budget is more complex than any in my memory,” City Manager Ed Zuercher said.
Phoenix Budget and Research Director, Jeff Barton said within the trial budget there are plans for public safety enhancement additions.
“Additional revenue would go toward police body cameras, and paramedic and fire department services,” Barton said.
The budget proposes the allocation of $11.4 million for body cameras to increase transparency within the police department. This includes not only the equipment but also the space to save all the recordings safely, Barton said.
Barton said another $2.8 million is planned for electronic patient records, in order to seamlessly transfer patients’ information. An employee assistance and wellness program for the police department was proposed to have a budget of $173,000 to provide psychologists for officers that may be dealing with post-traumatic stress disorder and other issues, according to Barton.
The trial budget also intends to partially restore prior cuts and expanded services at 2.6 percent over two years — a total of $44 million, according to Phoenix Chief Financial Officer, Denise Olson.
When summarizing the different options, Olson said option 1 involves an increase in taxes and employee restorations. Option 2 is similar to option 1, but would potentially raise other taxes such as sales tax instead of the property tax. The last three options do not raise taxes but also impact the city’s credit ratings and cut general fund programs and services.
No decision was made. The proposed trial budget is only a first draft and the options are still being explored.
“It provides us with an opportunity of critical feedback, what we’re doing right, what are we missing, what do you think we need to add or change,” Barton said.
Contact the reporter at Aida.Chavez@asu.edu.
