That answer, according to City staff, is approximately $54 million, which DiCiccio says is, “Interesting that it equals the food tax Phoenix is taking from the public.”
According to DiCiccio, $29.9 is built into current budget for merit and longevity (pay raises and bonuses) and approximately an additional $23 million is in for last year’s restorations.
DiCiccio: “What a person says and what they do is important”. He asked specifically, “How many police officers could $52 million hire? How many fire fighters could $52 million hire? How many after school programs could be restored? Libraries could be back to normal with increased service with $52 million. Senior programs could be restored with $52 million? Finally, how much does the food tax represent in this budget?”