Phoenix Adopts Budget Focused on Affordability

PHOENIX – Mayor Kate Gallego and the Phoenix City Council today adopted its annual budget, which makes meaningful investments aimed to make Phoenix more affordable for families, residents and the most vulnerable. The budget passed with a 9 to 0 vote.

Under the adopted budget, Phoenix will:

• Boost its investment in the Housing Trust Fund by $6.6 million, bringing its total to $15 million.
• Provide navigators for families who have lost federal food benefits as a result of the Big Beautiful Bill’s new certification requirements.
• Replace expiring federal COVID-19 funds with $18.4 million to support those experiencing homelessness and to prevent housing insecurity.
• Allocate $8.9 million for the Office of Heat Response and Mitigation.

Public safety— the City’s Police and Fire departments—make up 63 percent of the General Fund budget.

“Today’s budget takes meaningful steps to help families afford the basics,” Gallego said. “It invests millions in affordable housing and to shelter the homeless, offers help for families who need food assistance. And it does it all while cutting the property tax rate.”

“So many people in our community are struggling with life's basic needs right now, making difficult choices between paying rent or putting food on the table for their families. The funding in the City's proposed budget that helps prevent homelessness, stabilize housing, and reduce the barriers for residents to have access to benefits is vital. We value the City's partnership with St. Vincent de Paul as we work to feed, clothe, house, and heal people who have nowhere else to turn for help,” Shannon Clancy, the chief executive officer of St. Vincent de Paul, said.

“No child should go to bed hungry. Programs such as SNAP are a lifeline for so many families who are struggling to make ends meet, and they help provide access to healthy meals for families in our communities. However, in less than a year, we have seen that nearly 200,000 children have lost access to these food assistance benefits—a devastating reality for so many families who are struggling to put food on the table. When families lose access to these benefits by mistake, it has a real impact for parents and caregivers who are already facing rising costs and added financial pressures,” Kyrstyn Paulat, the director of early learning and education at Children’s Action Alliance, said.

“We are grateful for the City prioritizing refugees and vulnerable populations in its planning during this time of rapid policy change and social service disruption. Investing in SNAP and flexible emergency assistance is one of the smartest ways to keep our communities stable. These investments will help prevent hunger, reduce the risk of homelessness, and ensure refugees and other community members can stay safely housed and fed during a time of growing economic pressure,” Aaron Rippenkroeger, the executive director of the International Rescue Committee in Arizona, said.