The City of Mesa will be hosting two community meetings this month to give residents the opportunity to ask questions and provide feedback on the proposed FY 2025/26 budget. The open house format will have representatives from budget, finance and data and performance offering information and answering questions.
The community information sessions will be held on Wednesday, May 7 at 6 p.m. at Red Mountain Center, 7550 E. Adobe, and on Wednesday, May 14 at 6 p.m. at The Post, 26 N. Macdonald.
After a series of budget presentations by individual City departments over the past few weeks, Office of Management and Budget Director Brian Ritschel and Operations Budget Coordinator Kristi Griffin presented the proposed budget to City Council this morning. The $2.79 billion budget proposal includes funding for several additions to the City's core services:
Two new fire stations: Lehi (Station 223) and Hawes Crossing (Station 224)
Northeast Public Safety Facility: Police substation (first new substation since 2005) and Fire Station 222
Expanding the Real Time Crime Center (RTCC) to 24-hour coverage by adding a Police Sergeant and Management Assistant II
Continued support for Mesa Fire & Medical Department sworn personnel cancer screenings
More ambulances for the Transport Services program
Gateway Library (first full library since 1995)
Eastmark Great Park, Phase Five
Added five new utility locator positions to Energy Resources
All City departments were asked to reduce their ongoing base budgets by at least two percent during the budget development process. Those reductions were needed due to the elimination of the residential rental tax, implementation of the flat state income tax, and other financial pressures including public safety personnel costs, fleet maintenance and building maintenance requirements.
The tentative FY 2025/26 budget is scheduled for adoption by the City Council on May 19, with final adoption planned for June 2. The new budget would go into effect on July 1, 2025.