A recent study shows that the city of Scottsdale is paying over $3 million on public safety in the entertainment district. This is puzzling to some people because the area does have iconic art pieces throughout the area, but not for that price tag. The last five years has seen a lot of growth with new clubs, bars, and restaurants. In 2011, Scottsdale paid only $1.2 million in the same cost of safety, but the number has ballooned in the last 5 years.

Scottsdale Independent writer, Terrance Thornton, recently reported that 20 percent of phone calls to the Scottsdale Fire Department were in the entertainment district. Also, 25 percent of the phone calls to the Scottsdale Police Department were in the entertainment district, making the local government realize they had to put more money to this problem. 

Dave Smith, a city councilman, is pushing for the city to make a strict budget, as to how much money should go to protecting the district. One of the issues might come from the fact that bars have grown by 50 percent in the entertainment district, making some people unruly later in the evenings and on weekends. However, the cost of public safety would never be matched by bar business at this rate. Some wonder if the area is truly iconic and if it should be protected at all. Scottdale is growing at such an alarming rate; the city is having a difficult time deciding where the budget should go. Other areas in Scottsdale that have safety costs include places like the Fashion Square Mall.

Ultimately, Scottsdale wants to do what is best for their citizens, but they only have so much money to go around. Will the money go to the iconic entertainment district, or will it go to new venues across the city? Only time will tell.