The Glendale City Council voted last week to pursue a special General Obligation bond election in November and put two issues before voters. The requests total $160M.
The requests would provide $82M for street and intersection Transportation projects and $78M for a variety of Public Safety facilities development and equipment procurement projects. The City polled 400 likely voters earlier this year and found those two categories met with the strongest level of citizen support.
Council members debated the need for pursuing a bond request, with some arguing in favor of funding the projects with cash on hand for at least the coming year. The winning side, however, argued the bond measure was more fiscally responsible as a first option and that existing monies could be used if the bond request fails to pass.
City officials told Council another request may be necessary in 2024 for parks, flood control and libraries.
In 2020, Glendale voters rejected a $188M bond request covering projects in Parks & Recreation ($87.2M), Streets ($81.5M), Landfill Expansion and Environmental Protection ($9.9M) and Storm Drain and Drainage Improvement ($9.3M).
City staff and the bond committee will now work to inform voters about the upcoming election. During discussions for the new bond request, some Council members expressed doubt as to its likelihood for passage and worried there may not be enough time to educate and inform voters about the projects before the November election.
Council will adopt a formal resolution to send the question to the ballot by May 23 and must have the finalized election language to Maricopa County no later than June 12. (Source)