City council approved Glendale’s budget for the 2022-23 fiscal year at the June 14 city council meeting.
Prepared each fiscal year that annually runs from July 1 through June 30, the budget passed includes a $1.07 billion request. This is a 14% decrease from fiscal year 2021-22’s budget of $1.24 billion.
Set to cover the next 10 years, a $1.4 billion capital improvement plan was introduced as well.
The capital improvement plan will round out at $287 million and will cover many notable projects within its first year, such as the Downtown Campus Reinvestment Project, improvements at the Main Library, improvements at Thunderbird Conservation Park, the addition of five new splash pads and renovations of three existing splash pads throughout the city, and improvements to Fire Station 153.
The 2022-23 fiscal year budget includes an operating budget of $546 million. Highlights from this year’s operating budget include inflationary increases to contractual obligations, utilities, supplies, fuel and shop charges.
The city will also add close to 60 new positions for employees who will continue its attempt at improving the lives of those who live, work and play in Glendale.
General fund revenues, which are primarily used for general government operations, are projected to be $255 million. The largest operating budgets are the police and fire departments, with expenditures totaling $158 million, or 61% of the budget.
“This new budget afforded us the opportunity to not only expand our police force with more full-time employees but our fire department as well,” said Lisette Camacho, Glendale director of budget and finance. “We also were able to invest back into our water infrastructure, which is crucial now more than ever with the drought management plan that our city recently announced.”
The next-largest operating budget is public facilities, recreation and special events at $17.8 million, which reflects the council’s priority to invest in operations and maintenance activities at the city’s parks.
Glendale is actively reinvesting in parks with additions like new restrooms, more lighting and freshly updated walking trails, as well as additional ballfields and splash pads.
“It’s quite an accomplishment to have weathered the storm of the pandemic and come out strong with a budget that does not raise property taxes and still accomplishes our goals of providing quality amenities and services for our community,” Mayor Jerry Weiers said.
To view the budget in its entirety, visit the city’s website at glendaleaz.com.
