March 26th, 2011
SB 1322 will require Phoenix (Tucson is the other affected City) to put everything it does with the exception of police, fire, judges, 911 operators, tax collection and audit enforcement costing $75,000 or more out to bid.
Phoenix is a national leader in managed competition of municipal services. It currently outsources $432 million in 350 service areas. Working through such mechanisms as an Innovation and Efficiency Task Force on which outside citizens and City Supervisory staff are participating, 70 additional service areas potentially appropriate for outsourcing are being evaluated.
The dictates of SB 1322 will add paperwork, management, staff and legal costs. It would probably lead to a lower quality of service levels to the general public as well as the business community. It will negatively impact outsourcing efforts and review already in process.
Most important of all, this unfunded mandate is seriously over-reaching in that it interferes with the Phoenix voter approved City Charter which gives its City Manager, with the oversight of its elected officials, the authority to conduct business in the name of its citizens. It is ironic that at the same time State Legislators are expressing angst and railing against federal meddling in State affairs, there is an effort as evidenced by SB 1322 to micro manage local government.
SB 1322 has passed the Senate and the House Government Committee. It needs to be defeated on the Floor of the House.
Action Required
Email the various House Members and ask them to vote NO on SB 1322
Paul Barnes and Ann Malone
Citizens For Phoenix