The City Manager’s response to this fiscal crisis was to propose Draconian budget cuts that would inevitably divide the community by pitting neighbor against neighbor and everyone against Public Safety. The Mayor’s response was to propose a 2% tax on food with a 5 year sunset to help reduce, but not eliminate, the shortfall.

We refused to participate in this divisive process and while accepting $50 million in the City Manager’s cuts, we rejected the $90 million that would put our most vulnerable citizens at risk with no safety net. Reaching out to leaders among the Police and other city unions, Arts and Culture groups, the Disabled, Seniors, Parks Associations, After School Programs (PAC), Block Watches, PNP, Libraries and anti-tax groups, we collectively created a solution that would need sacrifices by all, but one we could all live with.

Through the unifying efforts of Citizens for Phoenix, the significant financial sacrifices contributed by all of our city employees, both sworn and non-sworn, and the Mayor and Council’s passing of the 2% Food Tax, *together* we have been able to preserve from cuts a substantial number of services and programs related to the quality of life of most Phoenicians. Additionally, we have won the right to a Best Practices Audit of all city departments beginning with Public Safety, the largest portion of our city’s budget.