Glendale residents will decide $330 million in general obligation bond questions on the November ballot after the City Council on May 26 approved Resolution R26-59, calling a special election for Nov. 3, 2026.
The vote came at the end of the regular council meeting following a workshop earlier that evening where Budget and Finance Director Levi Gibson and Assistant City Manager Vicki Rios walked the council through the proposed bond categories and amounts. The three ballot questions closely followed the framework the council had discussed at workshops earlier in the year.
The three questions
Question 1: Parks, recreation, and water conservation — $175 million The largest of the three measures would fund improvements to community, neighborhood, and regional parks, including aquatic centers, recreational facilities, and parks-related buildings. A significant portion is dedicated to water and energy conservation systems — lighting, shade structures, irrigation upgrades, and energy-efficient fixtures at park facilities.
Question 2: Library modernization — $75 million The second question would finance renovations and modernization of city libraries, including technology upgrades, expanded spaces for educational programs and community meetings, improved accessibility, and water and energy-saving measures.
Question 3: City Services and Safety Center — $80 million The third question targets the City Services and Safety Center, the city's maintenance and operations hub that houses emergency response vehicles, street and sanitation fleets, and other essential equipment. The bond would fund repairs, renovations, and modernization of buildings, warehouses, workshops, parking lots, and garages, along with safety and security system upgrades.
How GO bonds work
General obligation bonds are repaid through a dedicated property tax levy. If voters approve the measure in November, the city could sell bonds in series over time, and the annual debt service would appear as a line item on property tax bills. The proposed ballot language states: "The issuance of these bonds will result in a property tax increase sufficient to pay the annual debt service on the bonds."
The ballot was drafted to coincide with the general election to maximize voter turnout. According to the staff report, the need for additional bond authority was discussed at council workshops on January 28, 2025 and April 22, 2025, as part of the ten-year Capital Improvement Plan process.
What happens next
If the council approves the resolution, arguments for and against each measure would be collected and published in the official publicity pamphlet. Voters would then decide each question independently on Nov. 3 — approval of one does not require approval of the others.