City treasurer to ask council to amend code clarifying Budget Review Commission duties and reporting format

City Treasurer Sonia told the Budget Review Commission on Oct. 1 that she will bring an ordinance to Scottsdale City Council on Oct. 7 to clarify the commission’s duties and simplify its work products.

Sonia said the proposed amendment, drafted after feedback from council members, commission members and city leadership, would clarify that the commission’s primary role is to review the proposed budget and that any in‑depth examinations of operations should be tied explicitly to the budget or placed on a council‑approved work plan. She also said the ordinance would allow the commission to present recommendations to council using a PowerPoint or bullet points rather than requiring a full written report when the timeline is compressed. "The recommendation is to allow the commission to present recommendations in a PowerPoint to the council and not, you know, have to have a written report as such," she said.

Sonia said the change is intended to focus the commission on budget review and reduce the staff burden of producing long written reports under tight timelines. The ordinance also proposes a clearer vetting process for recommendations so the full commission can review and finalize suggested items before council consideration.

The commission discussed chair rotation and appointment language in the ordinance; Commissioner Carla asked whether annual chair rotation used by other city commissions could be added. Sonia said staff would bring commissioners’ suggested language to council for consideration.

Commissioners and staff did not take a final vote on the ordinance at the meeting; the treasurer said the ordinance would be included in the Oct. 7 council packet and invited further input from commissioners prior to that hearing.