Title
Community Feedback on the Proposed 2024-25 Budget
Description
This report transmits the summary minutes from community budget hearings held April 6 through April 16, 2024, budget comments received by the Budget and Research Department for April 10 through April 22, 2024, and social media statistics.
Report
Summary
This report provides community feedback on the proposed Fiscal Year 2024-25 Trial Budget received by the Budget and Research Department via phone, email, and the FundPHX interactive budget tool. Staff also provides summary minutes from all 11 Community Budget Hearings, that were held April 2 through April 16, 2024. Community feedback on the budget is an important component of the annual budget process and is provided to the City Council ahead of final budget decisions scheduled for May 21, 2024.
Attachment A transmits the summary minutes from the last seven Community Budget Hearings held April 6 through April 16, 2024. Attachment B transmits a summary of electronic, voicemail and FundPHX comments regarding the budget from March 1 through April 22, 2024, and social media statistics.
Community Feedback Reports are also available on the Budget and Research webpage at phoenix.gov/budget. Comments received are responded to by Budget and Research staff and/or the appropriate City department, as necessary.
Summary of Community Feedback
Below is a summary of comments received on the proposed budget as of April 22, 2024. The summary includes topics with two or more comments received. Staff has received a total of 359 comments from 172 individuals as of April 22, 2024. Several residents commented multiple times on the same topic. All comments received are included in Attachments A and B.
Comments for additional funding/support of the budget:
- (36) additional funding for legal counsel for individuals facing eviction.
- (33) additional funding to increase the number of drinking fountains in City parks and facilities.
- (30) additional funding for library hours and services.
- (30) additional funding for Fire Department positions and equipment.
- (29) additional funding for affordable housing.
- (24) additional funding for homeless services.
- (17) additional funding for road safety initiatives like Vision Zero and street preservation projects.
- (9) additional funding for Arts and Culture.
- (7) additional funding for permanent housing.
- (7) additional funding for park safety.
- (7) additional funding for the Police Department.
- (6) additional funding for cricket fields with additional lighting in South Phoenix.
- (5) support for the budget surplus.
- (5) additional funding for public safety.
- (5) additional funding for park infrastructure and improvements.
- (4) additional funding for heat initiatives that include heat resiliency and tree planting.
- (3) additional funding for neighborhood clean-ups.
- (3) additional funding for the Office of Homeless Solutions.
- (3) additional funding for youth programs.
- (2) additional funding for the Gated Alley Program.
- (2) additional funding for Camelback Corridor revitalization.
- (2) additional funding to build more community centers.
- (2) additional funding to develop properties from 24th to 28th streets to be used as a "hub" for youth and youth programs.
- (2) additional funding for preservation of historic assets Citywide.
- (2) additional funding for public restrooms at City parks to be cleaned regularly.
- (2) additional funding to bring retail space to South Mountain Village.
- (2) additional funding to add a traffic light at Cave Creek and Desert Cove roads.
Comments for reduced funding/opposition of the budget:
- (8) reduce funding for the Police Department.
- (4) reduce funding for road initiatives like Vision Zero.
- (2) reduce General Obligation (GO) Bond amounts so property taxes don't increase.
- (2) reduce funding for Green New Deal.
- (2) reduce/oppose the budget surplus.
- (2) reduce/oppose funding for homeless services.
Department
Responsible Department
This item is submitted by City Manager Jeffrey Barton and the Budget and Research Department.