By Richard Smith
A sign shows directions around the Surprise Civic Center Area.
The Surprise City Council approved a $275.8 million Fiscal Year 2018 expenditure budget, at a special meeting June 6.
When included with $57.7 million in transfers out, the total uses in this budget is just short of $333.5 million. In the fiscal year 2017 budget, the expenditure total was $271.9 million and the total uses was $306.8 million.
The budget maintains existing city services and identifies creative options to maximize some resources.
That includes securing outside revenue sources and reallocating the operating budget to provide new positions that address public safety, water and inspection demands. Two public safety grants (SAFER Grant and COPS Hiring Program) will partially fund a five-member Fire-Medical Peak Time Response Unit and two police officers, focused on community policing, through 2019.
This budget maintains the city’s current property tax rate of $0.7591 per $100 of assessed property valuation. Due to new construction and higher property valuations, as assessed by Maricopa County that would generate approximately $380,100 in new money. The primary property tax levy is set to support the uses of the General Fund and provides a more diversified revenue system that protects city services.
The budget also dedicates $49.8 million to support the city’s Capital Improvement Plan, which is used to maintain, preserve, and/or replace city infrastructure. This includes funding for pavement preservation of city streets, vehicle replacement and aging communications, information technology, recreation and utility infrastructure.
There are also a number of financial policy revisions regarding the level at which Council adopts the budget, who can amend the budget, minimum fund balances for the new Stormwater and Workers’ Compensation funds, and clearer definition of the reserves and their potential uses in the General Fund to strengthen the city’s financial position.
Council will vote to set the property tax levy and revise the financial policies at their June 20 Council Meeting.
The Fiscal Year 2018 Budget will be available at
www.surpriseaz.gov/budget.
Editor's Note: Diane Arthur is the city of Surprise Communications and Marketing Director
