APRIL 1, 2015

Public meetings beginning in April to review proposed City of Scottsdale 2015/16 budget, provide comments

SCOTTSDALE – The proposed budget incorporates the priorities and policy direction expressed by the City Council over the past year, balancing modest projected increases in revenue with additional expenses in priority areas. The proposed budget supports these major personnel expenses:

• Merit pay increases averaging 3 percent for employees who perform well ($3.1 million general fund; $4 million all funds)
• Pay increases for police officers based on experience and performance ($1.6 million)
• Increases in employee health care costs ($1.1 million general fund; $1.4 million all funds)
• Additional police overtime to match anticipated demand ($1 million)
• Adding eight firefighters, three fire captains and one fire engineer ($700,000)

This proposed budget is a starting point for additional discussions among the citizens and elected leaders of Scottsdale. The budget will be discussed at several public meetings beginning at 5 p.m. in the City Hall Kiva Forum, 3939 N. Drinkwater Blvd.:

Tuesday, April 14: Overview, discussion and possible council direction
Tuesday, April 28: (if needed): Overview, discussion and possible council direction
Tuesday, May 12: Public hearing and tentative budget adoption
Tuesday, June 2: Public hearing and final budget adoption; truth and taxation hearing
Tuesday, June 16: Final adoption of tax levies

Meetings will be televised on Scottsdale Channel 11 and live streamed at www.scottsdaleaz.gov.