Election Calendar (PDF)

• July 8 at 8:00 a.m. – First day to file arguments “for” or “against” the Bond Questions, for publication in the Informational Pamphlet.

• Aug. 7 at 5:00 p.m. – Last day to file arguments “for” or “against” the Bond Questions, for publication in the Informational Pamphlet.

• Oct. 1 – Informational Pamphlets mailed to all Tempe voter households.

• Oct. 7 – Deadline to register to vote in Nov. 5 Election.  Check your voter registration status at BeBallotReady.Vote.

• Oct. 9 – Early voting begins and early ballots mailed to voters on the Active Early Voting List or who have submitted a one-time early ballot request. For more information, visit Request.Maricopa.Vote.

• Oct. 9 – Nov. 5 – In-person voting. Find your location at Locations.Maricopa.Vote. There are also ballot drop box locations.

• Oct. 25 – Deadline to request an early ballot by mail. Visit Request.Maricopa.Vote to request a ballot in the mail.

• Oct. 29 – Deadline to mail back your ballot.  You can track your ballot status by visiting BeBallotReady.Vote or by signing up for ballot status alerts by texting “JOIN” to 628-683.

• Nov. 5 from 6:00 a.m. until 7:00 p.m. – Election Day!

• Nov. 10 – Last day for identification verification for Conditional Provisional Ballots and curing of early ballot affidavit signatures. For more information, visit https://elections.maricopa.gov/voting/ballot-curing.html.

• Nov. 11 – First day City Council can canvass the Election results.

• Nov. 21 – Last day City Council can canvass the Election results. 

A total of three questions are detailed in the Informational Pamphlet and Sample of Official Ballot Language for the November 5, 2024 Special Bond Election (PDF), and a summary of each question is below. 

• The purpose of Question 1, Enhance Community Through Public Safety and Roadway Improvements, is to seek voter authorization to issue and sell general obligation bonds in the principal amount of up to $301,000,000 to provide funding for fire, police, roadway, pedestrian infrastructure, and storm drain projects.

• The purpose of Question 2, Improve Quality of Life in Tempe Neighborhoods, is to seek voter authorization to issue and sell general obligation bonds in the principal amount of up to $248,500,000 to provide funding for parks, historic preservation, and municipal infrastructure projects.

• The purpose of Question 3, Increase Supply of Affordable Housing, is to seek voter authorization to issue and sell general obligation bonds in the principal amount of up to $32,000,000 to provide funding to increase the supply of affordable housing in Tempe.

The estimated average annual tax rate that is required to be calculated by statute for the proposed bond authorization is $0.8781 per $100 of net assessed value used for secondary tax purposes.

An informational pamphlet will be mailed to households of registered voters within the City no later than Tues., Oct. 1. Any persons wishing to submit a statement “for” or “against” the authorization of the bond questions must comply with the submission requirements listed in the next section.

Informational Pamphlet and Sample of Official Ballot Language for the Nov. 5, 2024 Special Bond Election (PDF)

Election Day is Tues., Nov. 5, 2024. The purpose of the informational pamphlet is to provide Tempe Voters with information regarding the three questions on the City of Tempe’s Special Bond Election ballot. 

The informational pamphlet also includes information about early voting, voting locations, and voter identification at the polls. The text of the ballot and the submitted arguments “for” and “against” the authorization to issue the bonds are also included in this pamphlet.

Informational Pamphlets will be mailed to all Tempe households with a registered voter no later than Tues., Oct. 1.

Sample of Official Ballot Language

QUESTION NO. 1

PURPOSE: ENHANCE COMMUNITY SAFETY THROUGH PUBLIC SAFETY AND ROADWAY IMPROVEMENTS

AMOUNT: $301,000,000

Shall the City of Tempe, Arizona be authorized to issue and sell general obligation bonds in the principal amount of up to $301,000,000 to provide funding for fire, police, roadway, pedestrian infrastructure, and storm drain projects, including, but not limited to projects intended to:

• Reduce response times and improve service delivery by modernizing public safety infrastructure, including construction, improvement, repair, and renovation of police and fire stations;
• Enhance safety conditions of drivers and pedestrians through construction, improvement, and repair of highways, streets, right of ways, bike paths, bridges, alleys, sidewalks, crosswalks, lighting, and parking lots;
• Improve roadway mobility and reduce congestion for commuters;
• Expand and enhance transportation connectivity options for the disabled community and in areas where access to safe transportation is limited;
• Construct, reconstruct, or improve traffic control systems, devices, facilities, street lighting, street signage and undergrounding utility lines; and
• Mitigate the impact of floods and storms through infrastructure improvements, including sewers, detention basins, and flood control projects?

Generated funds will be used to pay for all necessary design, construction, reconstruction, improvement, repair, renovation, equipment, and associated costs, including the acquisition of land or interests necessary for such purposes, all legal, financial, consulting, and other costs and fees in connection therewith. Such bonds will be issued in one or more series as tax-exempt or taxable bonds and may be sold at prices that include premiums not greater than permitted by law. Such bonds may have principal payable not later than 25 years from the date of issuance of each series. Such bonds will be issued as general obligations bonds, and the issuance of these bonds will result in a property tax increase sufficient to pay the annual debt service on the bonds.

A “YES” vote shall authorize the governing body of the City of Tempe to issue and sell up to $301,000,000 of general obligation bonds of the City to be repaid with secondary property taxes to enhance community safety through public safety and roadway improvements.

A “NO” vote shall not authorize the governing body of the City of Tempe to issue and sell such bonds of the City.

Sample of Official Ballot Language 

QUESTION NO. 2

PURPOSE: IMPROVE QUALITY OF LIFE IN TEMPE NEIGHBORHOODS

AMOUNT: $248,500,000

Shall the City of Tempe, Arizona be authorized to issue and sell general obligation bonds in the principal amount of up to $248,500,000 to provide funding for parks, historic preservation, and municipal infrastructure projects, including but not limited to:

• Enhancing existing parks across the City;
• Constructing and renovating playgrounds and recreational facilities;
• Increasing accessibility and improving Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) compliance in publicly owned spaces and facilities;
• Constructing, renovating, and improving municipal infrastructure and facilities; and
• Acquiring and improving technological infrastructure?

Generated funds will be used to pay for all necessary design, construction, reconstruction, improvement, repair, renovation, equipment, and associated costs, including the acquisition of land or interests necessary for such purposes, all legal, financial, consulting, and other costs and fees in connection therewith. Such bonds will be issued in one or more series as tax-exempt or taxable bonds and may be sold at prices that include premiums not greater than permitted by law. Such bonds may have principal payable not later than 25 years from the date of issuance of each series. Such bonds will be issued as general obligations bonds, and the issuance of these bonds will result in a property tax increase sufficient to pay the annual debt service on the bonds.

A “YES” vote shall authorize the governing body of the City of Tempe to issue and sell up to $248,500,000 of general obligation bonds of the City to be repaid with secondary property taxes to improve the quality of life in Tempe neighborhoods.

A “NO” vote shall not authorize the governing body of the City of Tempe to issue and sell such bonds of the City.

Sample of Official Ballot Language

QUESTION NO. 3

PURPOSE: INCREASE SUPPLY OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING

AMOUNT: $32,000,000 

Shall the City of Tempe, Arizona be authorized to issue and sell general obligation bonds in the principal amount of up to $32,000,000 to provide funding to increase the supply of affordable housing, including but not limited to:

• Redeveloping City owned housing to create additional affordable rental units;
• Repurposing existing available buildings into rental units; and
• Acquisition of land and enhancement of properties for development of affordable housing?

Generated funds will be used to pay for all necessary design, construction, reconstruction, improvement, repair, renovation, equipment, and associated costs, including the acquisition of land or interests necessary for such purposes, all legal, financial, consulting, and other costs and fees in connection therewith. Such bonds will be issued in one or more series as tax-exempt or taxable bonds and may be sold at prices that include premiums not greater than permitted by law. Such bonds may have principal payable not later than 25 years from the date of issuance of each series. Such bonds will be issued as general obligations bonds, and the issuance of these bonds will result in a property tax increase sufficient to pay the annual debt service on the bonds.

A “YES” vote shall authorize the governing body of the City of Tempe to issue and sell up to $32,000,000 of general obligation bonds of the City to be repaid with secondary property taxes to increase the supply of affordable housing.

A “NO” vote shall not authorize the governing body of the City of Tempe to issue and sell such bonds of the City.

REQUEST FOR ARGUMENTS 

REQUEST FOR ARGUMENTS FOR AND AGAINST THE AUTHORIZATION OF SALE AND ISSUANCE OF BONDS PAYABLE FROM A SECONDARY (AD VALOREM) PROPERTY TAX BY THE CITY OF TEMPE, ARIZONA TO BE CONSIDERED BY THE VOTERS OF THE CITY AT AN ELECTION TO BE HELD ON NOVEMBER 5, 2024.

Pursuant to Resolution No. R2024.33 adopted by the Mayor and Council of the City of Tempe, Arizona (the “City”), on April 25, 2024 (the “Resolution”), a special election in and for the City was ordered and called to be held on November 5, 2024 (the “Election”).

Notice of the Election will be given by mailing an informational pamphlet. Such informational pamphlet is to include arguments for and against the authorization of the issuance of bonds payable from a secondary (ad valorem) property tax by the City to be considered at the Election. (The text of the questions is available at the Office of the City Clerk at 31 E. 5th St., Tempe, Arizona 85281 and posted online.)

Filing Period

Any person interested in providing any such argument(s) is hereby requested to provide the same to the City Clerk in electronic format at clerk@tempe.gov, beginning at 8:00 a.m., Arizona Time, on Monday, July 8, 2024, and before 5:00 p.m., Arizona Time, on Wednesday, August 7, 2024.

Submission Method

Each argument must be submitted to the City Clerk in an electronic format via email to: clerk@tempe.gov.  Following the electronic submission of the argument, the argument with original signatures must be accompanied by a sworn, notarized statement and submitted to: Tempe City Clerk’s Office, City Hall, 2nd Floor, 31 East Fifth Street, Tempe, Arizona.  The Clerk’s Office is open Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Word Limit

Each argument is limited to no more than three hundred (300) words in length. 

Sworn Statement

Each argument must contain the sworn statement of the individual or organization submitting it.

• If submitted by an organization, it must contain the sworn statement of two executive officers of the organization.

Bond Argument Submission Form for Organization Sponsor - Word document

• If submitted by a political committee, it must contain the sworn statement of the committee's chairperson or treasurer.

Bond Argument Submission Form for PAC Sponsor - Word document

• If the argument is submitted by an individual and not on behalf of an organization, a political committee or any other group, it must contain the sworn, notarized statement of the person(s) signing the argument.

 Bond Argument Submission Form for Individual Sponsor(s) - Word document

Information about the Person(s) Filing the Argument

The names of persons and entities submitting written arguments must be included in the informational pamphlet. Persons signing the argument must identify themselves by giving their residence address and telephone number, which may not appear in the informational pamphlet, except that the person's city or town and state of residence must appear in the pamphlet.

Deposit per Argument

With each argument supporting or opposing the authorization of one or more of the bond questions, one hundred dollars ($100.00) must be deposited with the City Clerk to offset a portion of the proportionate cost of paper and printing the argument.  Individuals filing an argument may pay the $100 by credit card (Visa, MasterCard, Discover, or American Express is accepted) over the phone at (480) 350-8242, or by check or cash in person in the City Clerk’s Office, 31 East Fifth Street, Tempe, AZ, 85281.  The Clerk’s Office is open Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., excluding City holidays.

The signed, notarized original argument and the $100 deposit must be received in the City Clerk’s Office, 31 East Fifth Street, Tempe, AZ, 85281, on or before 5:00 p.m. Wednesday, August 7, 2024, to be included in the informational pamphlet.  Any argument submitted that does not comply with the requirements will not be included in the pamphlet.