Phoenix City Council has put the bulk of a budget surplus toward employee pay.
City Manager Jeff Barton called Phoenix employees the “most valuable resource” last week ahead of the council’s vote to approve a 2023-24 general fund budget that included putting $114 million of a $134 million surplus toward employee pay.
The total proposed general fund budget is just over $2 billion, which is a $245 million or a 13.8% increase from the prior fiscal year.
Councilor Betty Guardado said many of the things residents had complained about in her community outreach, including a lack of 911 operators, bulk trash issues, challenges opening swimming pools and staffing Head Start classrooms, come down to employee pay.
“We know that these issues have been a direct result of low pay for our city workers. That is why I am so happy to see this budget address low wages head-on,” Guardado said.
Barton outlined that the $114 million would help to address a 17% vacancy rate, ensure the city can keep up with an increasing demand for services along as the city’s population increases and ensure Phoenix can attract and retain the best talent.
Councilor Kesha Hodge Washington said wages shouldn’t just be about keeping pace with other hiring municipalities.
“I know it’s one thing to say you’re competitive, but I think it’s more important to say it’s a reflection of the value that they bring to the city, and to recognize that they are our most valuable asset, and we are investing in that,” Hodge Washington said.
Not all of the $114 million for employee pay will be spent in the upcoming fiscal year. The budget sets aside $20 million for potential future pay increases.
Aside from the added funds toward employee wages, the remaining $20 million of surplus will be spent on:
$7.6 million for continuity of services for vulnerable populations, particularly the homeless;
$3.8 million for enhanced public safety responsiveness and criminal justice support;
$3.6 million for healthy neighborhoods and community enrichment;
$5 million for the contingency.
The addition to the general fund’s contingency in order to keep the contingency at 4.5% of the fund’s operating expenditures.
Vice Mayor Yassamin Ansari said she was encouraged by funding for homeless services in the budget. She noted the budget would fund two new shelters to house 420 people. She said in cleanup engagement efforts at the homeless encampments near the Human Services Campus that 70% of individuals contacted accepted shelter.
Councilor Jim Waring was the only one on the nine-person council to vote against the general fund budget. He said this year’s budget was better than some recent years where he said council was letting important things go underfunded.
“Frankly while our roads were crumbling and we had the homeless situation spiraling out of hand, we were off talking about a lot of other stuff. And that was very frustrating to me,” Waring said.
Waring said though this budget was more “back to basics” there were too many holdover items from past years he opposed to vote no. He did not specify those items during last week’s meeting.
We’d like to invite our readers to submit their civil comments on this issue. Email AZOpinions@iniusa.org. Mark Carlisle can be reached at mcarlisle@iniusa.org.
Mark Carlisle Associate Editor | Phoenix @mwcarlisle
Mark Carlisle joined Independent Newsmedia, Inc., USA, in 2017, covering Glendale. He has since moved to the Daily Independent team, primarily covering the city of Phoenix along with other topics affecting the Valley at-large.
Community: Mark enjoys taking his two young sons to parks, the Phoenix Zoo, the Phoenix Public Library and other fun events around the Valley. He also participates in a local book club.
Education: Chapman University with a BA in English Journalism and one in Screenwriting.
Random Fact: Mark worked at a tuxedo shop in college. Just don’t ask him to tie a bowtie.
Hobbies: Spending time with his wife, sons and dog, watching sports and TV shows, listening to audiobooks and occasionally writing fiction or designing a board game.
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