Phoenix council adopts 2025–26 budget 8‑1 after debate over policing, housing and services

The Phoenix City Council adopted the city’s tentative 2025–26 annual budget (ordinance S‑51960) on June 4, passing the ordinance by an 8‑1 roll call vote.

Councilwoman Ann Hernandez explained her no vote in a prolonged floor speech, saying she could not "in good conscience support a budget that continues to invest more in policing our residents rather than investing in our communities and the solutions that will address the root cause of the issues we are all facing." Hernandez cited overtime costs in Phoenix Police Department spending, an ongoing Department of Justice investigation and what she described as insufficient investment in housing, mental‑health services and youth programs.

Supporters of the budget, including council members who spoke before the roll call, emphasized fiscal balance and maintained that the budget preserves rental assistance, utility help and homelessness programs begun in prior years. Councilman Bernardo thanked staff and discussed the difficulty of balancing competing needs in a constrained fiscal environment, and several members said they voted to continue services while pursuing additional accountability measures for certain programs.

City staff moved the adoption under the ordinance listed on the agenda and the measure passed 8‑1. The council recorded its votes during a roll call; Councilwoman Hernandez was the only member to vote no.

The budget adoption proceeds amid ongoing council attention to homelessness contracts, public‑safety overtime, and program performance reviews. No changes to the voted ordinance were adopted on the floor; councilmembers asked staff to continue work on program accountability and to return with implementation details tied to existing line items.