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Council honors City Manager Jeff Barton at final official meeting
Summary
Council members delivered tributes to outgoing City Manager Jeff Barton, recalling his pandemic-era stewardship and leadership of the budget and bond programs; Barton thanked staff and family and reflected on his tenure.
City Manager Jeff Barton received tributes from the mayor, vice mayor and council members at what council members described as his final official Phoenix City Council meeting.
Vice Mayor and multiple councilmembers praised Barton’s financial stewardship and leadership during the COVID‑19 pandemic, citing his work to stabilize the municipal budget and preserve services. "Your integrity and calm leadership has had a lasting impact not only on City Hall, but across every neighborhood we serve," said one councilmember during remarks.
Barton, who said he began as a budget director and auditor, thanked staff and acknowledged difficult moments, including inheriting a Department of Justice investigation early in his tenure. "Our employees are the best municipal employees in the entire country," Barton said, and he expressed gratitude to his family and to the staff in the budget and research department.
Councilmembers noted specific projects tied to his leadership, including bond programs and neighborhood investments, and several invited him to return for future ribbon‑cuttings. The council’s remarks emphasized both personal gratitude and the institutional legacy Barton leaves behind.
