NE Valley Times

Scottsdale’s Fiscal Year 2024/25 Operating Budget and Capital Improvement Plan was adopted by the City Council on Tuesday, June 4.

Despite strong revenue growth, the budget represents a 9.4% net decrease from the current fiscal year. This reduction is attributed to projected declines in residential rental tax and state-shared revenues, ongoing inflation, and a slowdown in consumer spending.

The budget, effective July 1, adopts a fiscally cautious approach. It focuses on covering inflationary increases impacting capital projects, ensuring competitive employment conditions among peer cities, and enhancing public safety services through staffing a new fire station and launching city ambulance service.

Scottsdale’s budget is balanced and conservative, funding core services and community priorities while maintaining high service levels and keeping taxes and fees low.

The budget also includes recommendations from a comprehensive classification and compensation study to help employees manage persistent inflation costs. Among the 2,700 city staff funded for FY 24/25 are 56 new positions in the fire department to improve services through staffing a new fire station and introducing the first phase of Scottsdale Fire Department ambulance service.

Key projects in the FY 2024/25 Capital Improvement Plan include expanding Granite Reef Senior Center, renovating Cactus Pool and Via Linda Police Station, and completing Fire Station 612 in the Scottsdale Airpark area.

The city's adopted FY 2024/25 primary property tax rate is $0.4958 per $100 of assessed value. The secondary tax rate for debt repayment on voter-approved bonds is $0.4358 per $100. At $0.9316 combined, Scottsdale’s property tax rate is 5% lower than the current levy and among the lowest in the Valley. City property taxes account for 15% of a property owner’s total bill (57% goes to schools/education, 18% to Maricopa County, and 10% to special districts).

For more information about the city’s property tax levy or to review Scottsdale’s adopted Fiscal Year 2024/25 budget, visit their official website.