FINANCIAL STABILITY provides proactive leadership and
considers all financial factors in order to diversify revenues,
bring new jobs to Mesa, create responsible budgets, and ensure
operational efficiencies.
Mayor and Council Vision Statements for Financial Stability:
- Financial
Efficiency, Innovation and Flexibility: Mesa's financial
systems are efficient, innovative and flexible. Capital projects
that are financed through bonds are covered by taxes generated
from the property they help improve. Special funds are minimized
by not having special sales tax assessments for special
interests, thereby increasing the flexibility needed by staff to
allocate resources where they are needed each year.
- Resident Trust
and Expanded Revenue Sources: We built resident trust and
confidence in our efforts to wisely govern the City and are now
seeking voter permission to expand our revenue sources.
Residents more fully understand the reality that they need to
invest in Mesa to have the kind of community they desire.
- High-Wage Jobs
are Critical: We understand the importance of bringing
additional high-wage jobs to Mesa. These higher salaried
individuals are living and working in Mesa, and therefore, more
of their dollars stay in Mesa and are now helping us create more
stable revenues.
- Economic
Development Focus: Mesa is finding ways to encourage base
industries to locate here and take full advantage of the Gateway
area. Business accelerators, a "close the deal" fund,
recruiting colleges and actively recruiting international trade
are important Economic Development tools being utilized
and are helping us lessen our over-reliance on Enterprise Fund
transfers.
- Helping
Residents Understand City Finances: Mesa is working to
help residents better understand municipal finances. These
efforts are helping to clear misconceptions and rumors.
- Residents now understand the importance of “Shopping in Mesa.”
They also understand the importance of State Shared Revenues,
and as such, residents are asking their State Legislators to
make sure those revenues belonging to cities stay intact. Also,
greater financial understanding has begun foster new ideas and
involvement from Mesa’s residents.
- Streamlining
Local Government: Mesa has begun to establish credibility
with the residents of Mesa because they know we are seeking ways
to further streamline local government and operations. We have
continued to evaluate privatization possibilities and to
identify opportunities to wisely invest/appropriate taxpayer
monies.
- Model of
Innovation and Efficiency: Mesa has a multi-modal tax
system that reflects today’s economic realities. Our Economic
Development efforts have helped spur private investment and
growth that has helped bring new revenues into the City. Our
city government has consistently explored innovative ways to
deliver services, which has resulted in new efficiencies.
We are the model of governmental innovation and efficiency.
With CityEdge in place, our financial reporting system is
state-of-the-art and delivers real time accurate information
that helps us manage the City more effectively.
More detail