May 18 Sales Tax Ballot Issue
It is not new news that it has been a challenge for TCC, City staff and our elected officials to work on balancing a budget for fiscal year 2010/2011. The City of Tempe's General Fund has a structural deficit of $33.7 million. The General Fund is comprised of sales tax revenue and due to lackluster sales in this economic downturn; the City has proposed budget reductions that will have an impact to all services that local government provides - including public safety and quality of life services.
The Tempe City Council reviewed and prioritized all of the budget reductions and, in a demonstration of strong support for human services, placed a higher level of prioritization to restore the Human Service budget reduction of $92,410. The prioritization would result in a restoration of Human Service funding if Tempe voters approve a two-tenths of a percent sales tax increase during the May 18 General Election.
If the sales tax increase is approved, the human services budget is slated to be restored to the full amount as last year.
The restoration of the human services budget, could result in a potential impact for Tempe residents (listed below is are projections based on City of Tempe FY 2010/11 Human Services applications of partner agencies):
* Over 1.3 million pounds of food, approximately 1,015,625 meals annually, or just over 2,780 meals each day are available
* 3,431 Tempe residents receive services who are dealing with drug/alcohol addiction
* Over 20,000 home delivered meals are available for Tempe's elderly and disabled
* 19 placements of affordable housing for Tempe's low-income seniors
* 245 Tempe seniors receive information, education and assistance regarding their Medicare plans
* 290 Tempe youth receive tutoring, life skills and drug education
* 256 domestic violence victims receive shelter
who identify Tempe as their last place of residence
* 586 homeless clients identifying Tempe as their last place of residence receive shelter
to teen parents. Operating under the CIS umbrella allows Open Horizons to continue to provide the same quality childcare it has for the past 20 years.
Selection for a scholarship begins when placement in suitable child care programs such as the Compadre High School Early Head Start campus is not possible. Tempe schools district counselor Bronwyn Paes, the teen parent coordinator, identifies teens who are struggling to complete their education due to a lack of reliable and affordable childcare. The teen parent coordinator ensures that the teens are performing academically and working toward graduation. The teen parent is then referred to CIS for a potential Open Horizons scholarship.
