Phoenix municipal ID program again delayed, this time over funding
Feb 13, 2018, 5:01 AM
PHOENIX — A long-winded battle to issue municipal ID cards as a secondary form of identification for Phoenix residents has stalled due to funding issues.
The Phoenix City Council first approved the creation of secondary municipal ID cards in 2016 in order to provide residents with another form of identification that would also allow them to access city services.
The council also approved a five-year contract with a private company that would have provided the cards at no cost to the city.
But Councilman Michael Nowakowski told KTAR News 92.3 FM that the company, SF Global, told the city that it could no longer do the business model that lawmakers voted on.
“We would probably have to take it back to the city and figure out if we want to continue with a business model that is non-cost neutral,” he said.
Nowakowski said he is looking at other cities to figure out how its leaders allow residents to easily access city services as well as searching for another company that can create the ID cards.
“We’re going to try and figure something out,” he said. “I’m not sure how many organizations or groups are out there that are providing this type of business.”
This is not the first time the roll-out of the IDs hit a snag: Last year, Phoenix delayed the program to account for any possible changes to municipal ID cards or services made in the state Legislature.
At the time, supporters of the program also raised concerns over whether the city would retain the personal information of cardholders and use it against them, especially if they are undocumented.
KTAR News’ Griselda Zetino contributed to this report.