Photo Credit: paradisevalley.gov

Paradise Valley’s Town Council has approved a tentative $69 million budget for the upcoming fiscal year, and the headline number tells only part of the story. The vote was 5-2, with council members Scott Moore and Anna Thomasson dissenting, and the final budget won’t be adopted until May 14.

It’s a Significant Jump

The proposed budget is 12.5% higher than the current fiscal year’s $61.3 million. The expenditure limit, which is the portion of spending subject to state controls, comes in at $48.2 million: almost 2.9% higher than this year’s. The rest of the budget consists of excluded items like grants, investment earnings, and debt service.

Roads and Drainage Are Getting Major Investment

The biggest capital project in the new budget is the long-planned Mockingbird Lane corridor improvement between 56th Street and Invergordon Road. The total project cost exceeds $17.5 million, with the town responsible for roughly $3.5 million in road work and $5.8 million in drainage costs. The Flood Control District of Maricopa County picks up nearly $8 million of the drainage tab. Overall, capital spending jumps 57% to $15.9 million, so residents can expect real construction activity in the coming year.

Employees Are Getting Raises, With Some Caveats

The budget includes an 8% total compensation bump for town employees: a 3% adjustment tied to a compensation study, plus a 5% merit and market increase. Under the tentative budget, the 3% portion won’t kick in until January 1 rather than at the start of the fiscal year in July. The raises were a sticking point for both dissenting council members, who felt the increase was too aggressive given current fiscal conditions.

Two Council Members Have Real Concerns

Moore and Thomasson’s no votes weren’t simply about the raises. Both cited frustration with the town manager’s responsiveness to information requests during the budget process. Thomasson also flagged the absence of a budget-to-actual comparison from the prior year, which she called a prerequisite for responsible approval of a budget this size. She indicated she may vote yes on the final budget in May if specific changes are made.

The final vote is May 14. Residents who want a say still have time to show up.