The Page City Council will vote this evening on approving or denying the city’s budget for the upcoming 2017/18 fiscal year, beginning July 1.  
Perhaps the most notable aspect of the budget’s latest draft is the city’s plan to increase expenditures by roughly $5.7 million in FY 2017/18 — up to roughly $22.7 million from $17 million for the current fiscal year.  
The largest portions of that figure include more than $3 million dedicated to widescale infrastructure repair plans for parks, roads and Horseshoe Bend. Another $1 million increase will cover a backlog of unpaid police and fire pensions, which is an issue arising in many Arizona cities this year — especially Phoenix.
More than $1.1 million is also planned for general government expenditures within the general fund, which accounts for the hiring of 10 and a half new full time city positions, including three police officers and three EMTs. Funds to go toward potential raises for city staff based on the recommendation of a recently-conducted class and compensation study are also included.
Note that while it means these monies will likely be budgeted after tonight’s vote, it does not necessarily mean the city will spend all of it during the next fiscal year.  

City financial staff also reported they believed Page was on track to ending the current fiscal year with $11.3 million in tax revenue and gave a conservative estimate of earning $12.1 million next fiscal year. For comparison, the city brought in roughly $10.3 million in the 2015/16 fiscal year, and $9.1 million the year prior.
As of June, the city had roughly $13.4 million banked in its general fund, and was looking at more than $18.6 million for total revenue earned this fiscal year.
While a slight slow down in tax revenue for the city is becoming apparent, some hotels in the area have reported a greater reduction in their own profits and customer base since the end of the shoulder season.
It is this fact combined with a still looming threat of the loss of the Navajo Generating Station by 2019, that prompted Councilman Dennis “Dugan” Warner to ask for scaling back city spending beginning with the next budget year.
Warner was reluctant to voice support to hire two open administrator positions in the form of a GIS technician and city human resources director this year, and further asked councilmembers to help him brainstorm ideas to scale back spending in other parts of the budget for FY 2018/19. He was, however, generally in favor of continuing infrastructure repair projects.
“My fear is if we continue to staff these positions without looking at what can happen or might happen down the road, we’re going to run into problems,” Warner continued. “I’ve said over and over that I think Page can weather the storm. I think in the long term we’ll be fine. But it won’t be easy and it won’t be fun.”
The Chronicle will give a more in depth look at the budget after the council meeting this evening concludes and once more concrete information is learned on the fate of NGS.
In the meantime, you can check out a simplified outline of the budget, as well as the draft itself by going to the city’s website at cityofpage.org, and clicking on government > public meetings > city council > June 21 work session agenda.