Tempe: Get engaged in 2013-14 budget efforts!

By: Ken Jones, Finance and Information Technology Director 

The city of Tempe is in the midst of drafting operating and capital budgets for the 2013-14 fiscal year. They will not be finalized until June, but work is progressing to plan for what will be needed to fund city services and capital needs. In addition, the city is planning for the expiration of the additional sales tax approved by voters in 2010. The 2013-14 fiscal year will be the last year with the additional funding from the tax.

For updated details on the formulation of operating and capital budgets, links to the PowerPoint presentation from two February public meetings, as well as projected dates for City Council discussions and votes, visit www.tempe.gov/budgetplan.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4X3K8NSpsto&feature=youtu.be

The city of Kingman is readying to welcome a new employer: an assisted living project that will result in approximately 50 new jobs for the area. Check out this article from the Daily Miner for more on the project and a photo of Mayor Salem welcoming the organization to the community.

http://www.kingmandailyminer.com/main.asp?SectionID=1&SubSectionID=1&ArticleID=55513

Check out this article highlighting some of the important work being done in the Gilbert clerk’s office:

http://www.azcentral.com/community/gilbert/articles/20130318gilbert-town-clerk-preserves-protects-paper-trail.html

Tucson Water and utilities across Arizona and the nation are promoting “Fix a Leak Week,” March 18 through March 24, 2013, as a time to bring attention to the amount of water lost through minor household leaks. Water loss through leaks exceeds one trillion gallons annually in America.

Tucson Water’s “Fix a Leak Week” web page at www.tucsonaz.gov/water/fix-leak-week offers the “Homeowners’ Guide to Using Water Wisely” booklet free by mail and downloadable learning activities for children. The page also has links to online tools for measuring home water use and calculating the impact of drips and leaks, and to videos on making simple household repairs, thanks to the Scottsdale Water Resources Department.

Mayor Jonathan Rothschild will issued a proclamation at the March 19 meeting of the Mayor and Council that encourages residents and businesses to be water wise and monitor for possible water waste.

“Due to the conservation rate structure used by Tucson Water, the water billing portion of a customer’s utility statement will rise dramatically when a leaking toilet flapper or faucets is left unchecked for a period of time,” said Fernando Molina, Tucson Water Public Information Officer. “While we offer some resources, customers should consult experts at local plumbing supply and home improvement stores for guidance on repairs and the right tools for the job.”

Town of Gilbert Partners with Arizona State University to Revitalize Heritage District
ASU Masters of Real Estate Development students are partnering with the Town of Gilbert to revitalize the Heritage District. View video here: http://youtu.be/pVYtAgsXb-U

Geeks’ Night Out in Tempe

It wasn’t hard to find Tempe’s contribution to the Arizona SciTech Festival. You just had to find your way to Tempe City Hall. The three Dr. Whos, the garrison of storm troopers, the pack of zombies, team of proton-packed ghostbusters and myriad of other costumed characters pointed the way for you.

Amidst all the chaos and fun were more than 60 booths by students, businesses and local groups. At the event, you could find nanotechnology by a collaboration between ASU, Rio Salado College, and the Boys and Girls Clubs. Chevron sponsored five Tempe school booths to showcase their experiments and learning. Mark Taylor brought glow in the dark furniture and awareness on healthy living. Go Daddy, NASA, Honeywell and so many others shared state of the art science and technology. We had an 8’ tall video game by University of Advancing Technology that used Tempe’s streets as a backdrop and a life-size replica of the Dr. Who Tardis – you know, that phone booth he uses to travel through space and time. It was built by a local fan.

We had robots everywhere, including one built by Corona del Sol High School students that shot basketballs in our City Council Chambers. The Tempe City Council proclaimed the third week of February to be Geek Week and the robot accepted the certificate.  

A ballyhoo like Geeks’ Night Out is our sneaky way of getting kids interested in (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) STEM education. They prepared their displays months in advance, learning along the way, and spent an evening telling people about their projects – and hanging out with Darth Vader.

We need the next generation to love science. We need them to know  that it’s fun. Our world has become so much more technologically advanced. We need people who not only have skills to keep advancing us – we need people who love doing it. If we can start now by showing that science and science fiction go hand in hand, that super heroes can be super scientists, we will get there faster. With more flair.

A more sedate portion of our event is the ASU Venture Catalyst Rapid Pitch. We bring together some of the state’s best technology and business experts to judge the concepts and actions of start-up companies. More than $14,000 in prizes were awarded from law firms, Microsoft and marketing companies.

Geek’s Night Out is also our way of thanking the 20 percent of Tempe’s workforce that is currently employed in a tech job. We celebrate their accomplishments and remind them that they are valued with this week. We see people leave their Mill Avenue offices, smile and walk across the street to enjoy the geeky array of fun. 

More than 3,000 people attended the four-hour event. Geeks’ Night Out will happen again next year – we’ve already had people asking if they can get more involved. Join us on the third Thursday of February. Bring your light saber.

Contact us for any questions you may have.

Vice Mayor Onnie Shekerjian – onnie_shekerjian@tempe.gov
Councilmember Robin Arredondo-Savage – robin_arredondo-savage@tempe.gov