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 in Scottsdale, the budget reflects 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, continued inflation, and a slowdown in consumer spending.

The budget, effective July 1, adopts a fiscally cautious approach. It focuses expenditures on covering inflationary increases impacting capital projects, ensuring the city remains competitive among peer cities as an employer, and improving public safety services by 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.

Investing in the community and city workforce

The budget includes recommendations from a comprehensive classification and compensation study to help employees manage persistent inflation costs. Among the 2,700 city staff funded in FY 24/25 are 56 new positions in the fire department aimed at improving 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.

Scottsdale’s reduced property tax rate is among the lowest in the Valley

The city's adopted FY 2024/25 primary property tax rate is $0.4958 per $100 of assessed value. The secondary tax rate, which pays down debt on voter-approved bonds, is $0.4358 per $100. At $0.9316 combined for FY 24/25, 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, review the June 4 City Council report here (PDF).

At 8.05%, sales taxes in Scottsdale are also among the lowest in the Valley. The city’s portion of that total rate – 1.75% – is lower than all but two of its Valley peers.

Review Scottsdale’s adopted Fiscal Year 2024/25 budget here.

###