Friends of Transit Weekly Update

Friends,

As you may recall from a note a few weeks ago, the Arizona State Legislature continues to grapple with the upcoming FY2010 budget. While there was little movement on the budget for several months, it now appears that things are moving at lightning speed.

While at first blush, the state's budget may not seem directly related to transit service; however, we will remind you that much of the funds for transit services come directly from cities. The budget proposed by the Legislative Leaders clearly impacts all cities and towns.

Below is a note we received from the City of Phoenix that we thought might be of interest to our readers (the text is pasted below). While this note came from Phoenix specifically, the heart of the matter impacts ALL cities and towns...many of which provide transit services for their citizenry. Whether you feel inclined to weigh-in on this issue or not is your decision alone, however, we encourage everyone to educate themselves about the budget process as it impacts more than just transportation.

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The time is NOW to call or e-mail your legislators and the Governor about the critical decisions they are making about our state's FY2010 budget. These decisions directly impact Phoenix and communities throughout our state. Unfortunately, the budget proposed by the state legislature raids funds dedicated to city services such as police, fire and parks -- Phoenix stands to lose approximately $14 million!

Call your legislators and the Governor (602-542-4331) TODAY! Tell them to pass a budget that does NOT impact cities and your neighborhood services.

The Senate's budget threatens city revenues and services:

SB 1035 contains the impact fee moratorium and "reforms" that shifts impact fee costs from builders to existing homeowners and businesses

SB1036 shifts city revenues to the state

Most probably, the House will work to mirror the Senate budget version as passed in order to get a budget to the Governor for her consideration today.

Whether the Governor will veto the budget package the Legislature will deliver is not absolutely determined, although she has publicly supported the positions of cities and towns. The Phoenix City Council has endorsed the Governor's budget.

You can help block this attempt by the Legislature to appropriate shared revenues and to shift impact fee costs from builders to existing homeowners and businesses by calling or e-mailing your legislator today. Thank you!

Our city's budget for next fiscal year (July 2009-June 2010) was adopted in February and includes difficult cuts that impact services in our community. Remember to SHOP PHOENIX and tell your legislators to protect city revenues!

Cheryl
Government Relations
Office of the City Manager
City of Phoenix
200 W. Washington St., 12th Floor
Phoenix, AZ 85003
602-534-9792
602-534-3644 - Fax

Phoenix Legislative Action Network (P.L.A.N.)
Making Phoenix Better One Neighbor at a Time
phoenix.gov/PLAN

FRIENDS OF TRANSIT, inc.
a 501 (c)(3)
P.O. Box 36916
Phoenix, AZ 85067-6916
(602) 818-1024
info@friendsoftransit.org