Budget Priorities 2020-21 This week, the City Council approved a tentative budget with requested changes. Far from boring, a City budget spells out its priorities in black and white. Budget priorities always matter but in this downturn, priorities carry greater consequences. Like triage in an emergency room, crisis budgets must prioritize the most vulnerable in order to save lives. More often than not, these priorities also make good financial sense. Scottsdale is a tourism town, so it’s no surprise the City’s revenue took a big hit. The sky is not falling though. The City is financially strong and moved quickly to pivot budget priorities, innovate, bring work in-house, and can emerge from the crisis with stronger community bonds and a leaner, greener economy. Below are some steps we can take to get from here to there. https://www.facebook.com/SolangeforScottsdale/posts/412287062721793 Pay Increases on Hold, Saving $9M From police to parks maintenance and social workers, staff has put our safety ahead of their own. In the budget, staff again put us first. Despite commitments for pay increases, staff will receive none. I hope to have flexibility to re-instate raises if the economy significantly improves. I'd also like City Council to postpone Mayor and Council raises until we restore staff raises. Staff Saving Tax Dollars In one week’s time, Scottsdale’s best economy in history came to a screeching halt. Despite a dramatic loss in revenues, staff has worked longer hours, reduced service fees for residents, and found innovative ways to save tax money. In the past few months, public works brought projects in-house reducing costs by $800,000, a grant is paying for two EV charging stations, and a horse manure expense has been converted into a cost saving resource at West World. There are many more tax dollar saving projects in the works. When pay increases aren’t an option, we can all do our part to show appreciation. Temporary Arts Funding Reductions With museums closed and shows cancelled, Scottsdale’s art’s partners will need to reduce costs in the upcoming year. The $7 million in annual funding is significant today and it is unjust to fund closed facilities thereby placing the full financial burden of this downturn on staff and residents. Prevent Homelessness & Protect Disabled Residents The tentative budget did not fully protect two vulnerable populations and City Council (7-0) fixed both. Rental assistance is crucial in the fight to prevent homelessness. Grants from neighboring Salt River Pima Maricopa Indian Community (SRPMIC) fund the City’s rental assistance program and other programs. With casinos closed, future funding is uncertain. Rental assistance needs doubled in April while funding is dwindling. Last night, Council approved contingency funds to ensure funding for this and other lifesaving programs. The goal is to reimburse tax dollars spent with anticipated federal relief dollars. Council also restored funding for important resident programming including two close to my heart: summer camp for middle school and high school age children with disabilities and social programming for adults with disabilities. Tax Cuts for Apartment Owners vs. Senior Programming Mayor Lane’s proposed symbolic property tax cut does not have my support for two reasons. The tax cut benefits owners of apartment complexes and corporate property owners like Nationwide Insurance far more than regular people. Someone who owns a $500,000 home will see only an extra $15- for the whole year. I’d rather see cuts that benefit residents over corporations. Second, the tax cut eliminates $600,000 of revenue or roughly the annual cost of the City’s senior food program. With funding for these food programs in question, I think most residents would prefer to protect seniors during this crisis than pocket $15. Cancel Canal Convergence, Save $550,000 Tourists are gone and those slowly returning will likely avoid large gatherings. The proposed 4-day Canal Convergence will set the City’s tourism budget back by $550,000. If COVID numbers spike, as happened this week, the event will be cancelled. This beloved event should be postponed and funding saved for a happier and safer time. Better Contracts & Fewer Staff The City continues to renegotiate contracts increasing revenue and flexibility, pilot programs to reduce waste and costs, and scale back and postpone CIP projects. All open staff positions will be unfilled and the City has reduced the already lean staffing levels. Collectively, these measures have shaved tens of millions of dollars off the budget. What's happening in Scottsdale? Thanks Scottsdale Living's John Doering for asking (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eIrXS9XiKuQ) .... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eIrXS9XiKuQ Until COVID-19, volunteers donated hundreds of hours to the City to perform a variety of services for our community. Since mid-March and to protect the volunteers, City staff has picked up many of the tasks previously done by volunteers. Often on top of their day jobs. This is the weekly brown bag food program at Granite Reef Senior Center. Packing bags starts at 6 am.
