Marc Jacobs Hobo budget hearings

Phoenix's budget planning for the 2011-12 fiscal year that begins July 1 has been far less painful than the city has seen in the

Marc Jacobs Hobo

past two years.
More than 250 residents attended the April budget hearings, compared with the 5,000 residents who sounded off at hearings last year as the city cut programs and services while adopting a 2 percent food tax to close a more than $270 million general-fund budget shortfall.
Next year, city officials expect residents will feel little noticeable services changes to close a projected $59 million budget deficit. Officials propose addressing most of the gap by refinancing debt and making internal operating cuts.
The budget reflects "a really positive step in the right direction for this community," Phoenix budget and research Director Mario Paniagua said.
Based on resident input at last month's budget hearings, Cavazos suggested an additional $329,000 in general-fund spending on top of what he proposed in March that would:
- Pay for two additional employees to clean up graffiti.
- Restore closed-captioning services to the city's government-access cable Channel 11.
- Make Burton Barr Library's Accessibility Center available on a walk-in basis for disabled patrons.
- Add $90,000 to the contingency fund.
- Provide more same-day transportation to disabled residents under 65.