Maricopa City Council members unanimously approved the 2025 fiscal year’s tentative budget during Tuesday night’s meeting.

Councilmember Vincent Manfredi was absent.

Books still balanced

Chief Financial Officer Matthew Kozlowski presented the tentative budget, showing the city’s growth through a series of bar graphs and numbers. This included a steady three-year increase in the city’s revenue and expenditures.

The budgeted operating revenue is expected to reach $98.49 million this year, a $7.14 million increase from the 2024 budget. The city’s revenue has grown by nearly $21 million in three years, according to Kozlowski.

That growth is because of the amount of property taxes, local sales taxes and miscellaneous fees the city collects.

City expenditures saw a more modest increase, with the 2025 fiscal year expected to reach $74.35 million. It increased by $5.26 million from last year.

About $4 million of the city’s expenditure increase came from personnel expenses. This includes $1.76 million in new hire requests, plus less than $1 million each for salary increases, health insurance coverage, overtime, retirement and other benefits.

Police, fire get 41% city’s expenses 

Maricopa’s first responders were designated 41% of the city’s budget — or $30.2 million — a slim increase from last year’s $27.3 million.

Most of the increases this year came from personnel expenditures. Maricopa Fire and Medical will spend about $11.3 million on personnel, while Maricopa Police Department will spend about $16.5 million.

Those expenditures include 10 new positions among the departments: 2 firefighter recruits, 2 public safety aides, 4 police officers and a records clerk.

What to expect next

A hearing for the final budget’s adoption will take place during a June 4 city council meeting. City officials will also introduce a property tax ordinance, which is expected to be adopted during a June 18 meeting.

A copy of the tentative budget will be posted on the city’s website by May 14, seven days after the meeting.

Vincent Manfredi is an owner of InMaricopa.