FAQs • Apache Junction • CivicEngage

Why do governments budget?: As a practical matter, most large public and private organizations, and many smaller ones, prepare budgets in order to manage their finances properly. Governments have two other primary reasons for budgeting as well. Governments provide facilities and public services to meet their citizens' needs which are paid for with public funds. Usually there is not enough revenue to provide for all the citizens' needs, so compromises must be made. The budget process provides a mechanism where elected officials, after hearing the diverse views of citizens, taxpayers and other interested parties, can compromise and reach an accord on spending priorities.

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City Manager

1. How is the City Manager chosen?: The City Manager is appointed by the City Council to enforce city laws, direct the operations of city government, prepare and manage the municipal budget and implement the policies and programs initiated by the City Council.

2. What are the City Limits?: Please refer to this map of the City Limits of Apache Junction.
City Limits Map...

3. If I have a complaint about Mediacom, who do I contact?: Please contact Matt Busby, 480-474-5096, if you wish to file a complaint regarding cable service. If you have a complaint about internet service, you may file a FCC complaint at this web address: Federal Communication Commission

4. What is the budget?: The budget is a plan. It is a financial proposal which annually directs the provision of public services and facilities. This plan represents the City Manager's and City Council's commitment to provide for the most important citizen needs within the boundaries of available revenue (funds). The money collected by the City from taxes, grants, fees and many other sources to pay for this plan is called revenue. The money spent on salaries, materials and equipment to provide these planned services and facilities is called expenditures. By City law, revenures and expenditures must be equal in the Annual Budget. This is what is meant by a balanced budget.

5. If I have a complaint airplane or jet noise who do I contact: You can call Phoenix Mesa Gateway Airport at 480-929-7902 Federal Communication Commission

6. Why do governments budget?: As a practical matter, most large public and private organizations, and many smaller ones, prepare budgets in order to manage their finances properly. Governments have two other primary reasons for budgeting as well. Governments provide facilities and public services to meet their citizens' needs which are paid for with public funds. Usually there is not enough revenue to provide for all the citizens' needs, so compromises must be made. The budget process provides a mechanism where elected officials, after hearing the diverse views of citizens, taxpayers and other interested parties, can compromise and reach an accord on spending priorities.

7. Why does the budget begin in the middle of the calendar year?: Many organizations have adopted twelve-month financial planning periods which do not begin or end with the calendar year. These financial or fiscal years are often set to be in conformance with similar organizations. Most governments, school systems, and many nonprofit enterprises use a July 1st to June 30th fiscal year.

8. What are the legal responsibilities of the City Manager and the City Council regarding budget setting?: The City Manager initiates the budget process. The City Manager sets the form of the budget and establishes the revenue estimates to finance the budget. The City Council may increase, decrease, or delete individual items in the City Manager's proposed budget. The City Manager must propose and the City Council must adopt a balanced budget.

9. Since the final budget can only be an estimate, what happens when the actual spending or revenues is higher or lower than expected?: If City finances are healthy, the City will complete the fiscal year with expenditures lower and revenue higher than anticipated, i.e., in a surplus position. As excess City funds are identified, they generally are used to fund supplementary appropriations to the current year's budget, used to fund extraordinary or emergency projects, or unplanned capital projects as they arise.

A far more serious situation exists when revenues are overestimated and/or unbudgeted expenses are incurred, so that a potential deficit situation exists. In such instances, immediate action has to be taken to curtail spending. There is little, if any, opportunity to pursue the alternative remedy, that is, to increase revenue yields, once the budget has been approved.