[{"_1":2,"_122":-5,"_123":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87,98,110],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6083834,"mediaKeyId","2926354-9c731923c0dd06466a9d9b163b637778","parentId",2926354,"title","Budget Review Commission to compile recommendations; opts for presentation to City Council and votes to add preserve item to Thursday agenda","audioSeconds",2088,"startMs",12932000,"endMs",15020000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2926354-9c731923c0dd06466a9d9b163b637778&start=12932&end=15020","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2926354-9c731923c0dd06466a9d9b163b637778/thumbnail_12932000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6083834/Scottsdale/Maricopa-County/Arizona/Budget-Review-Commission-to-compile-recommendations-opts-for-presentation-to-City-Council-and-votes-to-add-preserve-item-to-Thursday-agenda","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6083834-4fd1919776a4a3826eebdc1722a936bf/orig.mp4?Expires=1771215201&Signature=WCn7Hjut5rskWsONKo69D2EaABHX3sapY1POq2qePvpHlgrzVfYD3QfOlDWsfK0DvwL1DLledtsKObgnkgAspFaMTjzdMN8~Dk-zElYKEtmrpEUW4mQsjp1dQ0cdyYw2XowMGr23tQ~3mnhDLdb~eID9KtUVIYOqbFRw2sFLRWYv6Qx0Es4WGwgM8Z9eGhUnFqzMVN9ijHI~NbU7I9tyuCafO~YO7GQXwhvaOqX8Vm-ZO6D2jOIA2UJb9PABqQiyCdyUhw4iVD2SHJ0O6kc9MkQExJ0iVmOd~kbH5EHzJIIn~stCwzlnJQnAZCInXvQ6l83dvY0bfdhCds-KAT4IKQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Scottsdale, AZ","date","2025-04-09T16:38:43.433Z","article","The Budget Review Commission used its April 7 session to set logistics and near‑term deadlines for a final report to City Council and for internal deliberations.

Staff (City Attorney and City Clerk offices) recommended, and the commission accepted, a presentation-style format for the April 22 Council meeting: the commission will compile its findings and designate one or more commissioners to present a synthesized report to Council rather than conduct a full 14‑person joint meeting. Commissioners asked staff to gather submitted comments in advance and circulate a draft report for the commission to review at a planned April 11 internal meeting. Staff asked commissioners to provide suggested recommendations and “parking‑lot” items (topics the commission deems important but does not have time to resolve before the April Council presentation) so they can be included in the draft materials.

During the meeting the commission also moved and approved a motion to add a short discussion about the Rio Verde wildlife crossing (preserve-related) to the April 10 transportation/preserve agenda. The motion passed on a recorded 4–3 vote; the transcript records the commissioners who voted no as Commissioner Ransko, Vice Chair Schweiker, and Commissioner Stevens and notes the other four voted yes. The commission clarified the added agenda item is for discussion only and will not itself be a council action item.

Ending: Staff said it will post materials and a draft agenda with gathered commissioner comments in advance of the April 11 meeting and indicated deadlines to deliver comments to staff so they can be circulated and posted in accordance with public‑meeting rules.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Budget Review Commission - April 7, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","The commission discussed logistics for an April 22 presentation to City Council, set an April 11 internal meeting to finalize recommendations and voted 4–3 to add a discussion of a wildlife crossing/preserve item to an upcoming transportation/preserve agenda.","taxTitle","Scottsdale, Maricopa County, Arizona","taxId",2563,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6083839,"Transportation fund shifts project‑management costs into operating and proposes ADA, signal and streetlight investments",578,11342000,11920000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2926354-9c731923c0dd06466a9d9b163b637778&start=11342&end=11920","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2926354-9c731923c0dd06466a9d9b163b637778/thumbnail_11342000.jpg","/articles/6083839/Scottsdale/Maricopa-County/Arizona/Transportation-fund-shifts-projectmanagement-costs-into-operating-and-proposes-ADA-signal-and-streetlight-investments","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6083839-89709ac576db59b83ad29bbf6261dd28/orig.mp4?Expires=1771215201&Signature=D1qUzYJLP6j~THYl1LXPr66cSnDpmDVVkVC2VKiDXO5Ay5Zo~8mxytixt05c9va8H2-OrBB0~wHhvMunyvs62vZNbQJmPmYRSRD1C9OSFulMZ-lTdG88aF62jrALuseqc0KxnGsf86PqMvZgNLsyPp6dDl2WEfpWk5xq4Dmm7PfuJ7wtO2zdihqOZYfX59UpzpDVnDvzZXvEQNqeyLxHSY2juoWQCMzgftFqCA5R9hvFaGpr6kVOoXs34giNw0plR~d7uUo2yPH0wCgone5yjsQySghvKSKhBGFvUAiZMzoZK8XtkBggJlWK4nlzuHGVLUpbnN7JcUvBqHzEBX6STQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","City transportation staff briefed the Budget Review Commission on the Transportation Fund proposed budget for FY25-26, describing revenue sources, operating changes and capital transfers tied to the 0.2% sales tax and state highway-user allocations.

Staff noted the fund is a special revenue fund dedicated to street construction, reconstruction and maintenance. The proposed budget estimates $33.6 million from the city’s 0.2% transportation sales tax for FY25-26 and identified state-distributed highway-user revenues (HEUF) and other sources. Transportation proposed shifting a portion of the capital project-management (CPM) group’s cost into operating; the shift results in 10 positions now funded out of operating rather than projects. Staff said some of those positions handle program-wide project-management tasks that supported multiple funds (transportation, water and general fund projects) and should be funded from operating.

Proposed operating requests included a phase‑2 ADA transition plan (partially funded from the 0.2% sales tax), transit stop shelter painting, two ITS signal/operations staff, vehicles for field crews, dented‑pole replacement contracts and additional streetlight lineman contracting to address poles in locations that require specialized certified crews. Transportation staff flagged the fund’s capital program and five‑year plan: the proposed CIP calls for significant carryforward spending on delayed or unstarted projects and a higher near-term transfer to capital that will reduce the fund’s beginning balance over the next three years if the current plan is implemented.

Ending: Commissioners asked staff for more detail on the pavement condition index (PCI) distribution across lane miles, and staff said a third‑party pavement condition study is being finalized and will be used to set a prioritized five‑year program.","Staff presented the Transportation Fund (0.2% sales tax and highway user revenues) proposed FY25-26 budget, including a shift that funds 10 capital project-management positions from projects to operating, new ITS staffing, ADA transition work and increased maintenance funding for signals and streetlights.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":91,"_47":92,"_49":93,"_51":94,"_53":95,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":96,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":97,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6083843,"Fire department warns of near-term retirements, seeks staffing for ambulance program and reactivated station",0,13841000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2926354-9c731923c0dd06466a9d9b163b637778&start=13841&end=13841","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2926354-9c731923c0dd06466a9d9b163b637778/thumbnail_13841000.jpg","/articles/6083843/Scottsdale/Maricopa-County/Arizona/Fire-department-warns-of-near-term-retirements-seeks-staffing-for-ambulance-program-and-reactivated-station","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6083843-3d608a62ebfb302d609102e306df93c4/orig.mp4?Expires=1771215201&Signature=HUhZfFEo~QRDvg4AlowhHMb8UwGAFtdhecnoAupBao8DLFw1I2LeNlL4UIrml8GTVZG3bE6f3q-jd2PTcmouiVNhHNawKLQXSO-hF3x3ED5ptAa3xMzgu56D5tNGtkIWbK68KEzGpcZSyg4KLfewGsluJCSTiF96fBpcx29Uz2lmnCwj1179wLlFTPUc3LIWO7~IRcOdMHOhuFbmztrHdhHx5vn4jfPvhZ68gLPxu7p~STix5F4G8MsxWh7rNKNt0kePx2Fq2e1iUBsdNfIB9V5MMIbUKyjmEI0wk2zcNauFIjM32tCTtvKuxdu4Ghs8I5-~05GhfHngvJmFkQAQ4Q__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Fire Chief Tom Shannon told the Budget Review Commission that the department faces a wave of retirements that will drive hiring, training and equipment needs over the next several years and described budget requests to support an ongoing return to in‑house ambulance service and to restore a second company at Station 601.

Shannon said the department’s ‘born-on’ municipal-service date means a cohort of long-tenured employees becomes eligible for retirement beginning July 1, 2025; he described a front‑loaded “wave” of departures that will remove experienced supervisory and technical skills first. To manage that front end of the retirement “tsunami,” the department is asking for funding to recruit, hire and train replacements well ahead of departures, including paramedic schooling and special-team training (technical rescue, hazmat and airport rescue) and additional equipment and vehicle upfits.

Budget requests tied to the ambulance program include equipment for five new ambulances expected in October (phase 2) and staffing additions to operate the service. Shannon said the city’s plan is to reach operating break‑even on billings and revenues as the ambulance program scales; staff expect capital-asset recovery over a multi‑year horizon once full operations are in place, and the department projected positive operating results in coming years as utilization and billing mature.

Shannon also requested funding to reestablish a second company at Station 601 (Miller and McDowell), noting that station will improve response reliability for an area with rising call volumes. The presentation included an itemization of fleet upfits, training center costs and a new logistics warehouse intended to consolidate parts and improve supply control.

Ending: Commissioners thanked the chief and asked for more detail on the ambulance break‑even timing and on how retirements are being tracked and mitigated; staff said they will provide more detailed pro forma analyses and a phased hiring schedule.","Fire Chief Tom Shannon told the commission that about one-third of Scottsdale firefighters will be eligible for retirement beginning July 1, 2025; the department requested funding for ambulance phase 2, replacement equipment, and restoration of a second company at Station 601.",{"_33":99,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":100,"_41":101,"_43":102,"_45":103,"_47":104,"_49":105,"_51":106,"_53":107,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":108,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":109,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6083848,"Police asks for 22 FTEs, drones and expanded real-time crime center in FY25-26 request",566,9184000,9750000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2926354-9c731923c0dd06466a9d9b163b637778&start=9184&end=9750","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2926354-9c731923c0dd06466a9d9b163b637778/thumbnail_9184000.jpg","/articles/6083848/Scottsdale/Maricopa-County/Arizona/Police-asks-for-22-FTEs-drones-and-expanded-real-time-crime-center-in-FY25-26-request","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6083848-616ad4a5482a7cbfd506ad4005889a39/orig.mp4?Expires=1771215201&Signature=MiGOmV-XZVfeQWyrMSWF55rEAp3E6-XSTFKRDL8sgGMRFDCLpT-htfaHPI-UugOLsS1RgYndYmRp3F8zcYgEL52Qg5IpjrGg3zq8UUBSm1HwdsTWk5RNb7yQ9mb~noDcMJ1hU53lBtteeW5LVbLVIM814oU7oWxZqtH7jJZSsCRyhOv-L1ZJOYlg72iZ0IN54pGN5UTgzOqAHxejgyDr9MgPpf-PCFpzzFWsyi4dZJbarpAQcWv6TacmBErhRDuw-ksAF9HAurJ7WG~thlU81zY2k3m7wYFLepCgKAhXfTJG3vuAKpiyQEe9Fyn5L1U2-1ULB46r~fcVss5VKuoHmA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Police Chief Joel Leduc told the Budget Review Commission that the department’s FY25-26 budget request includes 22 additional full‑time equivalents, expanded civilian professional staff, and new technology investments intended to improve response and investigative efficiency.

Leduc described the department’s long-running strategy to substitute civilian professional staff for sworn officers in particular roles (police aides, civilian investigators and crisis intervention specialists) to reduce cost per position and focus sworn officers on front-line policing. The FY25-26 request includes a digital‑forensics detective, a civilian investigator for investigations/intelligence, four restored dispatch positions and three real‑time crime center (RTCC) operator positions plus an RTCC supervisor. Leduc said the RTCC speeds officer response by providing near‑real-time camera feeds and analysis.

The presentation highlighted two new technology investments: a drone-as-first-responder program (chief said drones reach many scenes in about 85 seconds in examples cited) and expanded RTCC software and camera integrations. The department asked to move some recurring airtime and other costs from RICO (seizure/disposition fund) to the general fund, saying RICO revenues have become less reliable after recent legislative changes and cryptocurrency trends affecting forfeiture collections.

On school safety and SROs, Leduc said the department will expand school resource officers from 10 to 13 and requested a lieutenant to supervise the additional officers and a sergeant realignment to maintain span of control. The department also requested six additional patrol vehicles and continuation of leased vehicles for undercover and investigative assignments.

Leduc said overtime spikes are driven by vacancy coverage, special events and critical incidents; the department expects about $1.4 million in cost recovery from event reimbursements next year. He also flagged the national challenge in filling dispatch and other specialized positions and said the department uses a rigorous hiring pipeline and workload-analysis tools (Corona Solutions) to set staffing and deployment.

Ending: Chief Leduc answered commissioners’ questions about contract detail, photo-enforcement risks from possible state action, and workforce wellness; commissioners asked staff for more line-item detail on contractual-service increases and how RICO-to-general-fund transfers will be handled.","Police Chief Joel Leduc told the Budget Review Commission the department seeks 22 new positions, investments in drones-as-first-responder capability and the real-time crime center, and requested moving some costs out of dwindling RICO funds into the general fund.",{"_33":111,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":112,"_41":113,"_43":114,"_45":115,"_47":116,"_49":117,"_51":118,"_53":119,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":120,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":121,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6083853,"City presents $2.207 billion proposed FY 2025-26 budget, highlights $50 million PSPRS paydown and reserve drawdown",120,1095000,1215000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2926354-9c731923c0dd06466a9d9b163b637778&start=1095&end=1215","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2926354-9c731923c0dd06466a9d9b163b637778/thumbnail_1095000.jpg","/articles/6083853/Scottsdale/Maricopa-County/Arizona/City-presents-2207-billion-proposed-FY-2025-26-budget-highlights-50-million-PSPRS-paydown-and-reserve-drawdown","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6083853-cabd871b2a2c6d798bcae31ad0450362/orig.mp4?Expires=1771215201&Signature=U0RuTBkEl59iGXTJl3LKXx0Lu0AYnjTuy7mK74jy0~WHFaO9jpaAjX4NT7f-klf6aW1bYF6Yt9xdpbZPQwqE9uJKVRYZ1avbzvX0l9V3Y3OeP1JXEoF0KzX~YzD2PrcwoSPMQcx5o1lZliuPZu3xqFBtEtmxxSLHy0Wq~JlLeTeV0Kz9-mNq3IWeTMAgr2mKPKvRzt7X8vEcS0-HCIyhlhhiWUcD9oFQTUHCs9TujqlXq1y8gDn3rMstTgtPHp7a~IcKK~fiOe9nAGgch33Dqz67jz3oE6DnDOFpSGG-ELq-OFcwAMxo1thwivE4ntnwYqYas0rIzzzPcUNkKU9Ndg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","City finance staff on April 7 presented the proposed fiscal year 2025-26 budget to the Budget Review Commission, describing a $2.207 billion spending plan that includes $885.5 million in operating budgets, $952 million for capital improvements and $370.4 million in contingencies and reserves.

The presentation said the total represents a 3.8% decrease from the current year overall budget but includes a 8% increase in operating spending when reclassifications and transfers are excluded. Sonia (presenting budget staff) said the operating budget increase reflects a combination of new full-time positions, transfers from capital to operating, salary adjustments and a one‑time $50 million prepayment to the Public Safety Personnel Retirement System (PSPRS) for police pension unfunded liabilities.

Commissioners pressed staff on several points: how the $50 million PSPRS payment affects long-term structural balance, whether the budget relies on drawdowns of beginning fund balance, and how transfers from capital to operating (about $12.5 million) should be read. Staff noted the general fund is projected to draw down $79.7 million in the coming year—about $50 million attributable to the PSPRS prepayment and $33 million transferred to capital projects—and that, across five-year forecasts, the general fund shows periods of both modest surplus and deficit tied to debt service and one-time items.

Staff described revenue assumptions that informed the budget: continued population growth (~1.4%), an unemployment rate near 2.7%, more than 11 million annual visitors, and a diversified sales-tax base. The materials also call for a change in local sales tax composition: a sunset of the 0.20% preserve tax concurrent with a new 0.15% park-and-preserve tax (effective July 1, 2025), and an ongoing full-year loss of residential rental sales tax revenue estimated at $16 million. Staff also cited the state’s flat income tax changes as reducing state shared income tax distributions to the city by about $6 million next year relative to what otherwise would have been expected.

On capital, the proposed CIP was presented at $978.5 million, down from a previously budgeted level after reclassifications and carryforwards. Staff said about $536.1 million of capital was carried forward from earlier years (projects delayed or unstarted) and the budget adds roughly $442.4 million in newly proposed spending to reach the proposed total.

Commissioners emphasized transparency in the adopted documents (several corrections were requested for the published draft), asked for clearer scheduling of capital projects, and discussed potential tradeoffs between using reserves for capital work versus pension prepayments. Staff agreed to provide additional detail on levy calculations, fund-by-fund five-year plans, and clearer wording in publicly posted materials.

Ending: Staff told the commission the proposed budget will go to City Council and that the commission’s comments will be compiled for a report and a presentation to Council later in April.","City staff presented the proposed $2.207 billion fiscal 2025-26 budget to the Budget Review Commission, outlining a $885.5 million operating budget, $952 million in capital improvements, a $50 million one‑time PSPRS police pension prepayment, and an expected drawdown of reserves.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Budget Review Commission to compile recommendations; opts for presentation to City Council and votes to add preserve item to Thursday agenda

Transportation fund shifts project‑management costs into operating and proposes ADA, signal and streetlight investments

Fire department warns of near-term retirements, seeks staffing for ambulance program and reactivated station

Police asks for 22 FTEs, drones and expanded real-time crime center in FY25-26 request

City presents $2.207 billion proposed FY 2025-26 budget, highlights $50 million PSPRS paydown and reserve drawdown