Tempe rolls out START performance-led budgeting and TAP acceleration program

Nov 24, 2025

City staff previewed the START prioritization exercise and TAP program: councilors will each receive 100 points (min 10, max 30 per measure) to prioritize 101 performance measures; staff emphasized the exercise guides strategy, not funding allocations.

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Waddell Holmes, Tempe's Strategic Management and Innovation director, introduced the START performance-led budgeting tool and the TAP (Targeted Acceleration Program) used to move performance measures forward. Holmes said the city's index contains 101 performance measures and described recent methodology updates intended to better align benchmarks and targets.

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