Six of the seven Mesa council members last week voted to adopt a tentative $2.79 billion spending plan for the upcoming fiscal year as some residents called for the city to go back to the drawing board and make some more cuts.
The budget includes $741 million for capital projects such as for the construction of three new fire stations, a new police substation and purchase of new ambulances; $187 million in carryover and $70 million in the rainy day fund. Final budget adoption is set for June 2 for the fiscal year that begins July 1.
The proposed spending is higher than the $2.69 billion budget in place despite the city manager asking departments to cut 2% in expenditures, amounting to a total of $11 million in reductions. The city blamed increasing operational expenses and loss in revenue, including the implementation of a flat tax and elimination of the residential rental tax…