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Glendale council adopts $672M budget

Posted
By Richard Smith


By Cecilia Chan
Independent Newsmedia


Glendale City Council last week adopted a $672 million budget for fiscal year 2017-18, which begins July 1.


The spending plan is a 3 percent drop from the previous budget of $692 million.


“This is my second budget as city manager,” City Manager Kevin Phelps told the City Council. “This budget, I think, was more challenging than last year.”


He said the balanced budget has had to absorb a $6.1 million increase in public safety pension.



Glendale City Manager Kevin Phelps

He called the budget a prudent one that keeps the city on track to realize a $50 million general fund balance or rainy day fund in two years. He also noted the council adopted a property tax rate that is lower than the previous year and that it was the second year in a row the city has dropped rates.


The budget, which the city manager said addresses a council priority by increasing money in park maintenance, includes $399 million for operations, $151.6 million for capital improvement projects, $77 million for debt service and $44.4 million for contingency. It earmarks $202.6 million total for the general fund with $131.5 million for public safety.


Councilwoman Joyce Clark said she only had one concern that she hopes will be addressed in the future. “This is a budget created by staff for staff,” she said. “There is no opportunity for council members to bring forth items that are important to their district or to residentsof Glendale as a whole.” She did, however, said the council do have a chance when it discusses capital improvement projects this fall.







She added she hopes the council at some point consider some modified zero-based budgeting, where all expenses by a department is justifi ed.Glendale 2017-18 budget highlights:


• Keeps moving the city toward its goal of a $50 million reserve by fiscal year 2019-20


• Projects no deficits over the five-year planning process •Includes funding for big capital improvement projects, including completion of Heroes Regional Park and major improvements to O’Neil Park by fiscal year 2023


• No increase to the primary property tax levy


• Funding for maintenance of police body cameras and related safety equipment


• Maintains all core programs without cuts in service levels within the city


• Supports the needs of the strategic planning effort the city, which includes the gathering of data to establish metrics and funding initiatives to improve efficiency “The fiscally-sustainable adopted budget serves as an indicator of the city’s continued movement toward financial stability,” said Assistant City Manager Tom Duensing said in a release. “Glendale has received credit rating upgrades from both Moody’s Investors Service and Standard & Poor’s that started in 2016 and the most recent Moody’s upgrade was received in April 2017.”


Glendale’s budget is prepared each fiscal year, which begins July 1 and ends June 30. To view the budget in its entirety, visit the city’s website at www.glendaleaz.com.