Phoenix council advances plan to raise taxes and fees
Phoenix City Council members on Wednesday voted to advance a plan to raise fees and taxes, a move aimed at increasing revenue to help the city close its $37.7 million budget deficit.
Though a final vote likely won’t occur until the council’s final fiscal-year meeting on June 18, debate on the proposals took place Wednesday because the city is required to give residents at least 60 days’ notice when considering adding or increasing fees or taxes.
The approval allows the city to post the proposed fee and tax increases and start a series of public hearings.
“We may support some, all or none (of the proposals), but at least it allows us to move forward and get as many facts as possible,” Phoenix Mayor Greg Stanton said.
The proposed revenue hikes would:
• Add a tax to city utility customers’ bills based on water-meter size, costing most users up to $1.50 per month. The tax would raise $10.2 million annually.
• Raise fees for city recreation passes from $10 per year to $20 for adult residents and from $5 to $10 for children. The fee would increase from $20 per year to $40 for non-resident adults and from $10 to $20 for non-resident children. The changes would generate up to $250,000.
• Raise fees for annual senior-center passes from $10 to $20 for residents and from $20 to $40 for non-residents. That would raise as much as $75,000.
• Create a new lighting fee for athletic fields of up to $5 per hour. This would generate about $320,000.