Scottsdale Mayor Lisa Borowsky announced on Mar. 10 that the City Council’s decision in 2025 to replace a planned roundabout with a signalized intersection at Scottsdale and Dynamite roads will result in an additional $3.4 million in project costs.
The change, approved by a narrow 4-3 vote, has drawn attention due to its financial impact and the reduction of contingency funds for the major infrastructure project. The overall budget remains capped at $43.7 million, but city staff confirmed that the extra expenses were covered by reducing the project’s contingency reserve from $4.43 million to just $0.85 million—well below the typical 10 percent benchmark used for large-scale projects.
“These updated numbers make clear that the 2025 decision to abandon a fully engineered, approved, and grant-funded roundabout placed an unnecessary financial burden on this project,” Borowsky said during last week’s City Council meeting. “Taxpayers deserve transparency about how and why a multimillion-dollar cost increase was absorbed simply to change designs midstream.”
Staff explained that maintaining the overall budget cap required shifting funds internally, primarily by drawing down reserves intended for unforeseen construction risks such as utility conflicts or inflation pressures. Borowsky said fiscal discipline and careful management are essential as Scottsdale continues investing in infrastructure improvements.
Borowsky has supported community service initiatives for children, older adults, and underprivileged youth through board roles, according to the official website. The mayor’s office has also emphasized resident engagement through updates and reports according to the official website. Borowsky served as mayor of Scottsdale according to the official website and previously served on the City Council from 2008 to 2012 advocating for fiscal conservatism and budget improvements according to the official website. She is also a lifelong resident of Scottsdale according to the official website.
“When the contingency funds are nearly exhausted before a project is finished, Scottsdale’s taxpayers are exposed,” Borowsky said. “We must learn from this decision and ensure future project changes are data‑driven, fully costed, and made in the public’s best interest.”
