By Dustin Gardiner | The Arizona Republic
A simmering debate over Phoenix’s food tax got its first public airing Tuesday, with City Council members and residents sounding off on the potential effects of a move to repeal the tax two years early.
The meeting was the start of the city’s budget conversation as City Manager David Cavazos presented his plan showing that a repeal of the tax would require about $55 million in cuts, including laying off 99 police officers and about 300 other employees.
But while the council likely won’t vote on the issue for weeks — the city must still hold hearings for the public to weigh in — the chances of a repeal of the tax appeared dismal on Tuesday.
A majority of council members said they would not support its repeal given the drastic cuts required to city services. They said vulnerable residents would be hurt more by the loss of police officers and cuts to services, such as senior centers, after-school programs and mass transit, than by a tax on food.
