Tentative city budget approved

The City of Buckeye is tentatively approved for a nearly $820 million budget —no more, maybe less. City Council’s May 20 vote approving the tentative fiscal year 2025-2026 budget is one step toward final approval on June 3.

This year's budget includes General Obligation Bond proceeds, paving way for anticipated projects that residents approved in the Nov. 5 election. Now that the tentative budget is adopted, Council may not exceed the $819.9 million amount, though it made reduce that total in future hearings.

Revenue Sources

The $819.7 million budget comes from a variety of revenue sources, top categories being 29% from the current fund balance, 20% from bond proceeds and 12% from sales taxes. The FY2025-2026 budget includes a minor reduction in primary property tax rates to $1.60 from approximately $1.61 in FY2025. The General Fund's total budget of $208.9 million consists primarily of 46% in sales tax and 21% in intergovernmental revenues.

 

Expenditures

The budget plans for estimated expenditures in the next fiscal year, with top categories including approximately 53% going toward capital overlay projects, 19% to operating expenditures and 17% to personnel services. The General Fund is expected to see $206.5 million in expenditures, 56% of which will go to personnel services, 27% to operating expenditures, 16% to capital overlay and the remainder to contingency funds.

Personnel Changes

The tentative budget proposed several updates to city personnel:

• Sixty-seven new city positions to be created
• 2.5% cost of living adjustment for the first pay period of the year
• 1% city deferred compensation contribution for all employees
• 4% merit increase for non-represented or non-public safety staff
• 5% merit increase for represented public safety staff, who make up 41% of the city work force

Capital Improvement Projects

The city's total five-year Capital Improvement Plan is budgeted for $745.4 million, $277.2 of which will be utilized in FY2025-2026. Notable projects include:

• $13.9 million for public safety projects:
  • Police communication center
  • Police Verrado Marketplace tenant improvements
  • Victory Fire Station #709 design
  • Westpark Fire Station #706 design
• $109.3 million for streets and transportation
  • Jackrabbit Trail improvements
  • Miller Rd. improvements
  • SR-85 traffic signals
• $16.9 million for airport improvements
  • Airport land acquisition
  • Other improvements
• $104.6 million for wastewater and water
  • White Tanks recovery well
  • Wastewater improvements to facilities in Sundance, Festival and Central neighborhoods
  • Jackie Meck Water Campus expansion
  • North Airport Water Campus expansion
  • Valencia Water System upgrades

Next Steps

Now that the tentative budget is approved, the budget will see a second publication on May 24. It will be brought before Council again on June 3 for a public hearing and final adoption vote.

Read the full city budget HERE.