P.L.A.N. Update - State Government Takes Over City Hall‏

Library operations . . . Outsourced.

Planning and zoning . . . Outsourced.

Domestic violence services. . . Outsourced.

Neighborhood code enforcement . . . Outsourced.

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Over the last several weeks, we've been informing P.L.A.N. subscribers about Senate Bill 1322: Managed Competition; City Services, a measure introduced by Tucson Senator Frank Antenori that dictates how City of Phoenix services are procured.

Recent amendments mandate Phoenix to spend taxpayer dollars to undertake an outsourcing, bidding process for municipal services that cost more than $500,000 (sworn Police/Fire personnel, City attorneys/prosecutors, City judges, and the City manager and clerk's offices are exempt).

The City strives to operate every program and service with an eye towards fiscal discipline and accountability. We also recognize that the private sector can and should play a role. This is why Phoenix currently outsources $432 million over 350 service areas. Senate Bill 1322 ignores this fact and instead has the state legislature overriding the Phoenix Council, Manager and voter-approved Charter which governs the City. Your elected Mayor and Council would have no say in the matter.

Programs and services that would be up for bid include:

Domestic violence services
Library operations
Planning and zoning administration
Neighborhood code enforcement
Graffiti busters
Civilian components of the City's Homeland Security Operation
Unsworn personnel in the Police crime lab
Water and wastewater treatment facilities
Certain operations at Sky Harbor International, Goodyear and Deer Valley Airports
Emergency utility assistance
Homeless shelters and prevention programs
Senior center services
Budget management
Small business development program
Equal opportunity functions
Human resources and employee discipline

The bill is so sweeping that the City would even have to bid out the procurement office that would then implement the mandatory procurement functions for the rest of the City's services.

The Phoenix City Council voted to oppose this measure, yet it is now just one step away from the Governor's Office. Please contact the following Phoenix State Senators and the Governor's Office and ask them to please oppose this costly preemption of local control.

CONTACT INFORMATION:

The Honorable Jan Brewer
Governor of Arizona
1700 West Washington
Phoenix, Arizona 85007
602-542-4331
E-mail

Senators Representing the Phoenix Central Neighborhood

Kyrsten Sinema
Legislative District 15
Email: ksinema@azleg.gov
(P) 602-926-5058

Source: P.L.A.N.

P.L.A.N. Update - State Budget, City Budget - Maybe This Week a Federal Budget?

Legislature Agreed on 2011-2012 State Budget

Last week a state budget for FY 2011-2012 (with adjustments to FY 2010-2011) was unveiled, debated, approved, and sent to Governor Brewer for her signature. The House started by deliberating and passing the Senate's budget bills with minor modifications in order to address Arizona's $1.7 billion deficit. Most reductions in the bills focus on K-12 education ($183 million), universities ($198 million), and AHCCCS ($510 million). House members worked through the night and sent the budget package to the Senate on Friday morning, where senators debated and passed the package and transmitted it to the Governor that day.

While this state budget will impact the City, revenue sharing (voter-approved dollars that pay for about 30 percent of Phoenix's general fund) was held harmless. The State will have Phoenicians pay $2 million in new fees to fund its Department of Water Resources. In addition, the budget plan sweeps about $12 million in Highway User Revenue Funds from the City that otherwise would help pay for street construction and maintenance projects.

Phoenix Budget Condition

Also last week, the Phoenix City Council approved a proposed Trial Budget for the City, which will be discussed in 15 community budget hearings this month. Because the city budget is developed with input from the Mayor and City Council, residents, city employees, city management and all city departments, the result is a budget that closely reflects the community's highest priorities.

Residents can provide input on the 2011-2012 City budget, as well as on the draft Phoenix Strategic Plan, by attending any of the community budget hearings beginning April 7.

What can you do?

Attend your community hearing to tell your City Council member and city management what programs and services are most important to you.

Contact your State Senator and State Representatives to thank them for protecting Shared Revenues for cities and towns. Click on "Link to the P.L.A.N." below to go to your "My PLAN" page to find your legislators' contact information.

Source: P.L.A.N.