The Tucson City Council is looking at how much money it will have for the fiscal year that begins in July, and the city manager has recommended a $1.3 billion budget.
Tucson revenues are likely to be slightly under budget for the current fiscal year, which has forced the city to be careful about hiring and spending, according to a city manager’s memo to the City Council.
Tucson Manager Michael Ortega has been trying to stabilize the city budget, which was in the red several years in a row before he was hired. Despite that, the city will end this fiscal year in June with more than $15 million in extra cash.
Ortega proposes using most of that on one-time expenses, such as software upgrades and buying police and fire vehicles.
The projected budget is written without the sales-tax increase on this month’s ballot. It would add a half-cent per dollar if voters approve it next week. The City Council will hold a public hearing on the budget May 23, and vote in late June.
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