The Surprise City Council approved the city’s fiscal year 2024 tentative budget, its largest ever, at the May 2 council meeting,

In order to address the city’s increased needs caused by growth, a focus was placed on infrastructure and increasing programs and amenities to maintain residents’ quality of life.

These operational and capital increases resulted in a tentative expenditure budget of $771.1 million and transfers of $113.2 million for a total uses tentative budget of $884.2 million.

To address the city’s growing operational demands and ability to maintain its level of service, this budget includes an addition of more than 64 full-time equivalent positions, which are made up of 26 public safety positions, five general government positions, three positions in sanitation services, and an increase in part-time salaries that resulted in 2.3 full-time equivalent positions.

This change in position count includes 28.5 full-time positions added mid-year for grant-funded positions in the Human Service and Community Vitality Department and the establishment of the new Arts, Culture and Library Department, which drew funding from existing budget previously earmarked for contracted library operations.

The budget includes operational funding for initiatives that help maintain the city’s existing infrastructure, such as asset replacement, pavement preservation and vehicle replacement.

Assets for Public Safety operations were emphasized in this budget, providing funding for two new ambulances to maintain service levels, hand-held radio replacements, expanded training for both police and fire personnel and additional lifesaving heart monitors.

The tentative budget also includes a five-year capital improvement project program that prioritizes projects and supports the city council’s strategic plan.

These projects support infrastructure such as a police substation, fire station, various road improvements to mitigate traffic congestion and improvements to support the city’s water and wastewater treatment facilities.

In addition, the budget prioritizes projects that enhance residents’ quality of life, such as a new city pool, new city park and continuation of the microtransit pilot program.

The capital projects budget is comprised of newly funded projects and carryforward appropriations from prior years.

A public hearing and council’s final budget adoption is scheduled for the June 6 special council meeting, beginning at 6 p.m.

City Council meetings are open to the public and are carried live on Surprise TV and at surpriseaz.gov/surprisetv.

Follow the budget process at surpriseaz.gov/budget.