Tucson council hears budget update, advances zoning tool and median ban; homelessness, opioid plans and flood concerns draw debate

Tucson’s mayor and council on March 18 heard a budget progress report that included a $17,800,000 placeholder for compensation changes in the draft fiscal year 2026 budget, advanced a zoning tool intended to spur infill housing along arterials, and approved an ordinance that bans occupying traffic medians. The council continued a contested rezoning proposal for the La Mariposa area after neighbors and independent hydrology experts raised flood and sedimentation concerns, and split over new ordinances aimed at prohibiting camping in washes and parks.

City Manager Mr. Tamir told the council the administration is “still working on a comprehensive compensation plan” and that April 8 will bring additional details. The budget working papers shown to the council include $17,800,000 “programmed into the FY26 budget” to address compensation through three tracks: in‑range pay placement, market adjustments and pay progression. Staff said some of the work will be phased, with portions effective July 1 and other market adjustments implemented later in the year.

The compensation discussion came in a broader update on the FY26 financial plan. Director Angel Ozomolam and other staff reviewed a draft five‑year capital improvement program totaling $2,100,000,000 (FY26–30) with $683,300,000 proposed for FY26. Major proposed expenditures in the FY26 CIP briefing included $145,600,000 for water utility projects (the northwest well treatment project and the Tucson Airport remediation program were highlighted), $94,300,000 anticipated from the Better Streets, Better Streets program (Prop 411) for street improvements, and parks and public safety projects including an $18,400,000 South Side police and fire complex. The presentation noted a $33,500,000 estimated cost for a northwest wells treatment system and an approximately $27,000,000 cost for airport remediation; staff said the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality has provided $25,000,000 for the airport project’s design and construction.

Budget director comments repeatedly returned to the FY27 structural challenge if…