Glendale moving ahead with $747M budget
Glendale City Council is scheduled to finalize a $747 million budget at its 5:30 p.m. Tuesday, June 9, meeting.
After being online only for two months, city meetings reopened for in-person attendance May 26. Council meetings are being held at the Civic Center, 5750 W. Glenn Drive.
Council voted 6-1 to tentatively approve the budget May 26.
Councilman Bart Turner voted against the budget. “I think it’s unfair that approximately half of our employees would be getting cost of living adjustment, but we are withholding that from other employees,” he said, alluding to police and fire department agreements. “And a year ago, money was shifted at the last minute to increase the mayor’s supplies by $150,000,” Turner said.
“I’m disappointed the mayor is asking for that and the (city) manager is recommending it again. I’ve had no explanation of how the money gets used.”
Mayor Jerry Weiers told The Glendale Star, “I am proud to stand with a majority of Glendale’s Council that supports remaining fiscally conservative to address Glendale’s financial responsibilities. This budget offers no reduction in services to residents. In fact, it supports a slight increase in several key departments, ensuring a high level of services residents have come to know and expect.”
According to agenda documents, the proposed budget for the year starting July 1 includes an operating budget of $444 million—a 3% increase over the current fiscal year that ends June 30.
The budget also includes a capital improvement budget of $175 million, a debt service budget of $87 million and a contingency appropriation of $41 million.
Total city revenues are expected to be $667 million, with $124 million in transfers.
The budget does not include an increase to the primary property tax rate. City Manager Kevin Phelps said the increased city services are being paid for by sales tax and business development, particularly on the west side of the city near Loop 303. Glendale has annexed or is annexing a dozen large parcels of former farmland near the 303.
he general fund, which pays for police, fire and other essential services, has anticipated revenues of $240 million. Property taxes account for less than $6 million of that, with sales taxes and shared state revenues projected to bring in more than $180 million.
Phelps is asking council to approve hiring 14 new full-time positions, including four each in the Glendale Fire and Glendale Water Services departments.
The general fund operating budget request is $230 million, with police and fire departments totaling $150.
The budget also introduces a $1.2 billion 10-year capital improvement plan, with the first year coming in at $175 million.
