Civil Expense: The Battle Over City Budgets and the Taxpayer Burden

From Surprise to Scottsdale, cities across the Valley are weighing tax hikes or budget cuts—raising the question: how wisely are your tax dollars being spent?

Across Arizona, cities use State of the City addresses to spotlight wins, spin setbacks, and pitch what’s next—often at taxpayer-funded events built into annual budgets. It’s as much about messaging as it is about policy.

Now, with budget season underway, the real numbers are surfacing—and so are the battles over your tax bill. Cities and counties are un…