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Tucson officials map budget squeeze: pay plan moves forward as council debates fees and safety funding
Summary
City staff showed a narrowed FY27 deficit and presented a menu of options; council advanced a major employee compensation package and authorized parks fee notice while debating fee fairness, Safe City deployments and possible service reductions once state revenues decline.
TUCSON — City staff told Mayor and Council on April 7 that the projected fiscal 2027 general‑fund gap had narrowed from nearly $29 million to roughly $17 million after updated state shared‑revenue projections and internal adjustments.
The study session covered a broad "menu of options" to close the remaining gap, including potential new revenues (park and recreation fees were discussed), transfers, targeted service reductions and strategic vacancy management. Staff emphasized that employee pay increases and ongoing public‑safety commitments were built into the base assumptions for the year and were not on the immediate table for elimination.
Human Resources presented a large FY27 compensation package — the second year of multi‑year pay adjustments citywide — that would cost an estimated $18.1 million citywide and about $12.8 million in new…
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