the city of phoenix is over budget $70 million bucks. and they want to HIRE MORE STINKING COPS. perhaps we should ask people to attend these hearing and tell the city council that we dont need no more stinking cops!!! they should be firing cops. mike Original Article Phoenix wants residents' input Meetings planned on budget cuts Ginger D. Richardson The Arizona Republic Feb. 4, 2005 12:00 AM Phoenix officials are seeking residents' input as they prepare to make almost $70 million in cuts to the budget for the next fiscal year. The city is planning a series of community budget meetings during the first half of March. Specific times and dates have not been set, but officials say they likely will be held at senior centers and community centers in every council district. "We will develop a proposal to take to the City Council," City Manager Frank Fairbanks said. "And then we will take it to the community. "We will ask the community to help us shape this budget." City officials are facing a $68.7 million deficit in the next fiscal year, which starts in July, because projected expenses are far outpacing revenues. Already, Fairbanks has instituted a hiring freeze at City Hall and has asked the council to approve a series of emergency measures that will give the city a little more money. At this point, it is not clear exactly what services or programs may be eliminated or scaled back. Fairbanks has asked all departments to submit a plan for reducing their budgets by 5 percent. Cost-cutting measures include minor reductions, like not purchasing new equipment or furniture, to severe cutbacks, such as closing libraries on Fridays, shutting down public swimming pools earlier and doing less street maintenance and repair. The city also plans to look closely at police and fire departments, which traditionally have been exempt from budget cuts. "I support not cutting any (public safety) positions," Councilwoman Peggy Bilsten said. "But I think we need to consider cuts to both departments like we do everyone else, and I know it's probably politically incorrect to say that." The departmental budgets for police and fire are the city's largest, with a combined budget of more than $574 million this year, well over half of the city's $930 million General Fund. The Parks and Recreation Department has the third-largest budget. One cost-cutting measure that has been suggested is eliminating the DARE drug-prevention program and delaying the opening of seven new fire stations. The financial woes are being caused by a host of factors, including health, benefit and compensation packages for employees; the need to pour more money into the city's pension fund, which has lost money as the economy has struggled; and new expenses, like the hiring of police officers and firefighters. Previous-year budget cuts, in which the city shaved a total of $105 million, are also having a big impact because so many cuts have already been made that officials are now being forced to look at eliminating services. Recommended program reductions and personnel cuts will be decided by March 1. Community hearings will run March 2-17, and the final proposal voted on by the council on March 29. The cuts will become effective May 23. Mayor Phil Gordon said the city is eager to hear residents' thoughts. "Every year over the last decade, changes were made to the city manager's recommended budget based on community input," Gordon said. "The proposals won't be rubber-stamped. "We want to hear what people have to say." Reach the reporter at ginger.richardson@arizonarepublic.com or (602) 444-2474.