Committee Recommends

After thorough consideration of all factors and projections presented to it, the Committee determined that, in order to achieve financial sustainability through 2025, the City must adopt a long-term multifaceted approach. Recognizing this, the Committee has developed the following recommendations to address improvements in operational efficiencies and expenditure-related items as well as additional revenue measures. While some of the recommendations did not receive unanimous support by committee members, all of those included below represent a majority of the group.

A. Statement of Principles

The Committee has developed several recommendations that revolve around the following guiding principles:

1. It is the intent that the proposed recommendations present a total level of taxation that is commensurate and competitive with the communities in the region.

2. It is the responsibility of the City Council to determine the specific extent of the necessary revenues and make ongoing adjustments as necessary to ensure that the City operates at the least expense possible while providing the levels of service desired by its citizens.

Budget Process and Service Efficiency Recommendations

Prioritizaton and Revitalization of City Services

The City Council shall annually formulate a list of city spending priorities, and discuss and approve this list in a regular meeting. Each priority must be result oriented and paired with specific indicators of success, consistent with the parameters set forth in this document. The City Council should not approve the final budget unless it is consistent with the approved prioritized spending list.

The City Council shall create the Mesa Citizen's Advisory Committee (final committee name TBD; should allude to or include the words "setting financial priorities," "financial strategy" and/or "operational efficiency.") The members of this committee shall be appointed by the City Council. Working with the City Auditor, the committee shall develop a recommended annual audit plan, review audits conducted by the City Auditor or any independent auditor retained by the City, and make recommendations to City Council as appropriate. Other duties of the committee may include, but not be limited to: identifying possible public-sector providers, public-private partnerships, intergovernmental relationships and other economic opportunities to transfer services, where appropriate, to the private sector or other governmental entities; contracting management oversight of private/governmental providers of city services; evaluating all departments and services relating to continued usefulness and making recommendations to sunset programs or services; and evaluating the acquisition, management and recommended disposition of City real property assets. The committee shall be considered a part of the City government subject to the State's open meeting, public records, and conflict of interest laws and the City's Ethics Code. The committee shall forward any recommednations to the City Council for public review and final approval. Staffing and any other resources necessary for the proper functioning of the committee shall be provided in the City Auditor's budget allocation.