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Fiscal Year 26/27 BUDGET TIME Prepared by League of Arizona Cities and Towns 1820 West Washington Street Phoenix, Arizona 85007 (602) 258-5786 www.azleague.org AELR . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 ASRS Contribution Rates . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 Bond Election Info Pamphlet . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 Budget Calendar FY 2027 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 Budget Forms . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 Census Population Estimate . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 Consumer Price Index . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 Expenditure Limit & AELR Dates . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 Expenditure Limitations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 Development Fees . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 GPLET . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 HURF . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 Jet Fuel Tax . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 Primary Property Taxes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 PSPRS Contribution Rates . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 Publication of Budget Reports . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 Secondary Property Taxes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 Social Security Rates . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 Tax and Fee Increases . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 Transparency, ADOA Portal . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 Truth in Taxation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 Water Rates . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 1 Introduction In this publication we summarize key State laws that affect the preparation of city/town budgets, highlighting any recent legislative changes. We recommend that anyone directly involved in the municipal budget process review this report. This report is sent directly to all city/town managers, clerks without managers, finance directors, and attorneys. Please distribute this report internally as needed. This report is also available on the League website, www. azleague. org, under Publications. For more information on any topic, please refer to the League’s Municipal Budget and Finance Manual. City / Town Website At several points in this document, you will see a statutory requirement for something to be posted on your website. These requirements are aimed at providing the public with greater access to information, and some include a requirement for posting on your city/town website Home page. We recommend placing a single conspicuous link on your Home page that leads to a dedicated Posting Page, where you can list each link to a required notice, ordinance, report, pamphlet, or any other information you wish to share. The dedicated posting page should be based on a list of municipal departments, with direct links to each document listed beneath the related department heading. Organized in this way, it’s easy for interested citizens, and those who monitor posting compliance, to quickly find all required public notices. Census Estimate Figures used for Shared Revenue Distribution State shared revenue distributions are allocated to cities and towns based on the U.S. Census Bureau Population Estimate as of July 1 of the preceding year. The July 2025 estimate will be used for State shared revenue distributions during FY 2027. We expect these population estimates for cities and towns to be released by the Census Bureau in late May 2026. The League distributes a Preliminary Shared Revenue Report in March using the 2024 populations, and a Final Shared Revenue Report after we receive the 2025 population estimates in May. Expenditure Limitations All cities and towns in Arizona are subject to some form of expenditure limitation, beginning with the State-imposed limitation enshrined in the State Constitution. It is based on each municipality’s actual revenues collected in Fiscal Year 1979/80, adjusted annually for population growth and inflation. The expenditure limit for each city and town is calculated by the Economic Estimates Commission (EEC) each year based on this formula. As of March 2026, the voters in 85 cities and towns have approved an alternative expenditure limitation, using either the Home Rule Option (39) or a Permanent Base Adjustment (46). The Home Rule Option essentially replaces the State-imposed expenditure limitation with your annual budgeted revenue figure. A Permanent Base Adjustment simply adds the approved amount to the current 1979/80 base amount. The increased 1979/80 base amount is then used to calculate the expenditure limitation beginning with the next fiscal year following voter approval o f the PBA. To adopt either a Home Rule Option or a Permanent Base Adjustment, a city or town must hold an election. Home Rule and PBA elections must take place at a regular primary or general election in the same cycle as your mayor/council election, or in conjunction with a statewide general election. If approved, Home Rule remains in effect for four fiscal years, at which point it must be renewed by returning to the voters for re-approval. The League has prepared separate Home Rule and PBA guides for cities and towns. Each package contains election calendars, sample reporting forms, and summaries of the requirements and steps necessary to send the question to the electorate. Each city and town that is due to hold its next Home Rule Option renewal election receives this package from the League the year before the required election. Cities and towns that are considering adopting a Home Rule Option for the first time should contact the League for assistance. If you are considering holding a Home Rule Option or Permanent Base Adjustment election in the Fall of 2026, you should be well under way by now. The League’s Municipal Budget and Finance Manual has additional information on each of the allowed alternative expenditure limitation options. The Annual Expenditure Limitation Report (AELR) The Office of the Auditor General (OAG) created the Annual Expenditure Limitation Report (AELR) forms with instructions, and a series of FAQs to satisfy the required Uniform Expenditure Reporting System (UERS) pursuant to A. R. S. §41-1279. 07. All cities and towns must file the required forms with the OAG no later than nine (9) months after the end of the fiscal year (March 31), even if they have adopted an alternative to the State-imposed expenditure limitation. Figures used on these forms must be audited figures, so audited financial statements are also required to be completed by this date. Since the time to file was lengthened to nine (9) months, the OAG is no longer authorized to grant extensions. The League recommends maintaining at least five (5) years of the AELR forms on your website along with the related five (5) years of audited financial statements. Statute also requires each city and town to provide the Auditor General with the name of its designated Chief Fiscal Officer by July 31 every year, even if the name did not change from the prior year. This is accomplished directly on the OAG website. The Chief Fiscal Officer is responsible for filing the AELR forms. 2 Key Expenditure Limit and AELR Dates DATE EVENT February 1 Economic Estimates Commission (EEC) notifies cities and towns of their preliminary expenditure limitation estimate (see the latest estimates on the EEC website). March 31 AELR forms and financial statements for the preceding fiscal year must be submitted to the Auditor General. (FY24/25 forms are due NLT March 31, 2026) April 1 EEC determines the final expenditure limitation for the coming fiscal year and notifies the city/town (see the latest estimates on the EEC website). Budget Forms All municipal budgets must include the specified forms provided on the Auditor General’s website, found here: www. azauditor. gov/resources/cities-and-towns/forms. Accurate completion of these forms is paramount. Cities and towns are required to post these forms to on the municipality’s website for at least five (5) years. All cities and towns, including those operating under Home Rule, must submit these forms to the OAG with their AELR for review. Cities and towns should submit their budget forms via email or upload to the OAG’s ShareFile site for review. Do not send a copy of your complete budget book to their office. Contact the OAG Accountability Services Division at asd@azauditor. gov or (602) 977-2796 if you have questions. Publication of Local Budgets and Audited Financial Statements Municipalities must prominently post on their website both the adopted Tentative Budgets and the adopted Final Budgets for at least the last five (5) years. At a minimum, all posted tentative and final budgets must include Forms A through G required by the OAG. These documents must be posted within seven (7) business days of adoption. State law also requires that audited financial statements must be posted no later than seven (7) business days after the date of filing the financial statements with the OAG, and these must also remain on the website for at least five (5) years. The League recommends posting at least five (5) years of the AELR with the related audited financial statements. If the financial statements are not filed on time, the city or town must post on its website the required Auditor General form, stating the financial statements are pending, the reason for the delay, and the estimated date of completion. This form must also be filed with the OAG, Speaker of the House, and Senate President. If the financial statements for a city or town are not completed and filed on or before the adoption of the city/town budget in the subsequent fiscal year, the governing body must include the Auditor General form in the published budget for that fiscal year. Transparency: Posting Revenues and Expenditures Online / ADOA Portal Pursuant to A. R. S. §41-725, the Arizona Department of Administration (ADOA) is responsible for maintaining a website that is searchable by the public at no cost, and that contains a comprehensive database of all receipts and expenditures of state monies. The ADOA meets this obligation through operation of the Arizona Financial Transparency Portal (the Portal), located online at openbooks. az. gov. All cities and towns with a population over 2,500 are also required to maintain an official website accessible at no cost to the public, and that contains a comprehensive reporting of all city/town revenues and expenditures over $5,000. The information is to be provided as nearly as practicable in the same manner as the state information available on the Portal and must be consistent with the requirements for reporting state revenues and expenditures found in the statute. The required data must be updated not less than every three months. In addition to all State agencies, the Portal houses the data for numerous participating counties, cities and towns, as well as state universities, community colleges, and local school districts. The ADOA will partner with any city or town that wishes to utilize the Portal to satisfy these requirements. Interested municipalities can find additional information here. Note that, if a city or town has received a Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting from the Governmental Finance Officers Association (GFOA) for its ACFR, the city/town may post the ACFR on its website to satisfy the requirements of this law. While the League encourages all cities and towns to pursue this certification for their ACFR, we highly recommend fully utilizing the Portal in addition to posting of the ACFR. Bonded Indebtedness Report A. R. S. §18-304 requires cities and towns with a population of more than 2,500 to report all incurred debt, including the date of issue, purpose, original amount, current balance, interest paid to date, and principal and interest paid in the latest full fiscal year. This includes amounts retired or paid in full during the fiscal year. The amounts retired or refunded should represent the total through the life of the bond and not just the amounts retired or refunded during 3 the fiscal year. The bonded indebtedness report must be filed with the Arizona Department of Administration. See the ADOA’s OpenBooks Portal for additional information. Primary Property Tax Levy A municipal primary property tax levy must be adopted on or before the third Monday in August, per A. R. S. §42-17151. On or before February 10 of each year, the County Assessor is required to transmit to each city and town an estimate of the total net assessed valuation of all property in the city/town, including the value of property added to the tax roll since last year. On or before February 15, cities and towns must make the property values provided by the County Assessor available for public inspection. Each February, the Office of Economic Research and Analysis in the Arizona Department of Revenue (ADOR) prepares a report of the property tax levy limits for each city and town that has a primary property tax. On or before February 10, the Property Tax Oversight Commission (PTOC) reviews and distributes the final levy limit worksheets, which provide the city/town’s calculated maximum levy limit and the calculated maximum tax rate for the coming fiscal year. (Note: If your tax rate exceeds the calculated maximum tax rate, the PTOC will require you to reduce your rate to no more than the calculated maximum.) The city/town must notify the PTOC in writing within ten (10) days of receipt of the worksheet, stating whether it agrees or disagrees with the levy limit. If a city or town fails to notify the PTOC, it is presumed the city/town agrees with the limit calculations. In early July the PTOC will request the city/town’s total amount of actual property tax collections from the prior year and collections from any property added to the rolls as escaped property in the prior year. This information is necessary for the PTOC to properly review the levy limit calculations. If your actual primary property tax collections exceeded your allowable levy, you must maintain the excess in a separate fund and use it to reduce the primary property tax levy in the following year. Notice of any violation of the levy limit will be sent to the city/town by September 15. You have until October 1 to appeal a violation notice by requesting a hearing before the PTOC. Disputed PTOC hearing decisions may be appealed to the superior court. Attorney General’s Opinion I86-031 states involuntary tort judgments against the city are not subject to the Constitutional expenditure limitation. Interpretation of this opinion allows a city or town to offset involuntary tort judgments paid during a tax year against any excess property tax collections. In other words, such judgments can reduce the amount you may have to subtract from your allowable levy due to excess tax collections. To utilize this offset, submit a copy of the court order or settlement agreement of the involuntary tort judgment and the minutes of the council meeting at which payment was approved to the PTOC by the first Monday in July. Truth in Taxation Per A. R. S. §42-17107, if a city or town is proposing a Primary property tax levy for the coming fiscal year that is greater than the levy amount of the previous year (excluding amounts attributable to new construction), the city/town must follow “Truth in Taxation” procedures. It is important to note that it is the levy amount that triggers Truth in Taxation requirements, NOT the tax rate. Note: Truth in Taxation requirements may also be triggered without increasing the Primary property tax levy if a town has negative “new construction”, which occurs whenever the city’s total net assessed valuation for the current year is less than it was for the prior year. A lower net assessed value is usually the result of declining assessed property values or properties being retired from the tax rolls for some reason. If your proposed levy is subject to “Truth in Taxation”, the city/town must publish notices in the paper, issue a press release concerning the increase, and hold a public hearing. The following apply to these requirements: 1. The Truth in Taxation notice must be published twice in a newspaper of general circulation in the city/town, in a location other than the classified or legal advertising section. The notice must be at least one-fourth page in size and shall be surrounded by a solid black border at least one-eighth inch in width. The headline of the notice must read “Truth in Taxation Hearing – Notification of Tax Increase” in at least eighteen-point type, and the text must be in substantially the same form as provided by statute in A. R. S. §42-17107. 2. The first publication must be at least fourteen (14) but not more than twenty (20) days before the date of the hearing. The second publication must be at least seven (7) but not more than ten (10) days before the hearing. 3. The city/town is required to issue a press release with the same information that is included in the required Truth in Taxation notice, along with the name of the newspaper and the dates the notice is being published. The press release must also be prominently posted on the city/town website, and it must be included in both the tentative and final budget. 4. The Truth in Taxation hearing must be held at least fourteen (14) days before the adoption of the levy. The hearings for Truth in Taxation, the adoption of the levy, and the adoption of the budget may be combined into one hearing. The hearing must be held on or before the fourteenth (14) day before the day on which the governing body levies taxes, per A. R. S. §42-17104. The Truth in Taxation hearing can be on the same council agenda as the budget adoption, but it must be held before the adoption of the budget. 4 5. Within three (3) days of the public hearing, the city/town must mail a copy of the Truth in Taxation notice, a statement of its publication or mailing, and the result of the council vote to the PTOC: Property Tax Oversight Commission Arizona Department of Revenue Attn: Office of Economic Research and Analysis 1600 West Monroe Phoenix, Arizona 85007 Important: If your city/town is subject to Truth in Taxation this year, you must adopt your tentative budget before the statutory deadline of July 15 to meet the deadline for publishing the required Truth in Taxation notices (see the recommended budget calendar at the end of this report). As an alternative to publishing the notices, a city/town can mail the required notices to all registered voters in the city/ town at least ten (10) but not more than twenty (20) days before the hearing. Cities and towns preparing to hold a public hearing on a property tax levy must publish a report that includes estimates of the expenditures and revenues related to the levy. This is typically accomplished when the Tentative Budget is published in a newspaper of local circulation for two consecutive weeks by including the Truth in Taxation calculations and the primary and secondary property tax levies. This report must be 1) published in a newspaper, 2) posted on the city/town’s website, and 3) made available at city/town libraries and administrative offices. The newspaper publication must include the city/town website address and the physical address for the libraries and administrative offices. In conjunction with the publication of the tentative budget summary, you should also publish a notice specifying when the public hearings will be held and when the council will adopt the final budget. If a primary property tax levy increase is proposed, exclusive of increased property taxes received from new construction, a roll-call vote of the council must be taken on the matter of adoption. If the proposed levy constitutes an increase over the levy of the preceding year by fifteen percent (15%) or more, the motion to levy the increased property taxes must be approved by a unanimous roll-call vote of the council. To reiterate, even if the primary property tax rate remains the same, if the total levy increases by more than the increase that is attributable to new construction, you must follow “Truth in Taxation” procedures. Secondary Property Tax Levy State law allows the annual levy for a secondary property tax to include projected payments of principal and interest on new debt planned for the ensuing year, as well as principal and interest for current obligations, a reasonable delinquency factor, and an amount necessary to correct prior year errors or shortages in the levy. Statute requires the secondary property tax levy of a city or town to be net of all cash remaining from the prior year, except for ten percent (10%) of the annual payments of principal and interest in the current fiscal year. (A. R. S. §35-458) Prohibited Fees A city or town may not levy or assess a municipality-wide tax or fee against property owners based on the size or value of the owner’s real property or improvements to real property for any public service provided by the municipality except for a municipality that adopted an ordinance requiring property owners to obtain fire prevention and control services before December 31, 2013, and except as provided in A.R.S. Titles 9, 35, and 42. (A. R. S. §9-499. 17) Adopting New or Increased Taxes or Fees Per A. R. S. §9-499. 15, a city or town that chooses to levy or assess any new or increased taxes or fees must post written notice that it may consider the proposed change on the home page of the municipality’s website at least sixty (60) days before the date the tax or fee is considered for approval by the council. The city/town must also prepare a schedule of the proposed new or increased tax or fee that includes the amount of the tax or fee and a written report or data that supports the need for the new or increased tax or fee. At least fifteen (15) days before consideration by the council, the city/town must post on its website a separate “Notice of Intent” to establish or increase taxes, assessments, or fees that includes the date, time, and place of the council meeting where the proposal will be considered. The city/town must also fully utilize social media to advertise the “Notice of Intent” posting. These requirements do not apply to development impact fees, water and wastewater rates, registration-based classes and programs, court fees established per law, fees for public housing, and other fees set by State or Federal law. For more information on the required posts, notices, and reports, see the League’s Municipal Budget and Finance Manual. Adopting Water Rates A. R. S. §9-511. 01 requires a city or town council to adopt a notice of intent to increase rates before increasing water or wastewater fees. The city/town must post the notice on its website along with a report supporting the increased rate or rate component, fee, or service charge. The report must include cash flow projections showing anticipated revenues from residential and nonresidential customers and the overall expenses for providing the services. A public hearing on the proposed rate increase must occur at least 60 days after the notice of intent is adopted. After the hearing, the council may adopt, by ordinance or resolution, the proposed rate or rate component, fee or service charge increase or any lesser increase, which shall become effective not less than 30 days after adoption. The law prohibits a municipality from assessing or collecting fees on new water or wastewater service for the 5 purpose of recovering the cost of acquiring a public or private water or wastewater utility. Bond Election Informational Pamphlet A. R. S. §35-454 requires that an informational pamphlet be issued in connection with bond elections. The pamphlet must provide examples of how the bond will impact the taxes for a $250,000 home, a $1 million commercial property and on agricultural property valued at $100,000. This is similar to the information that must be included in the publicity pamphlet for the establish- ment of a primary property tax levy (see A. R. S. §42-17107) Development Fees A municipality may assess Development Fees on new development to offset the burden of additional capital costs for providing “necessary public services” to the development by following the exacting requirements found in A. R. S. §9-463. 05. Development fee revenues must always be maintained in a separate fund, shall be accounted for and reported on separately, and shall only be used for the costs identified in the municipality’s adopted Infrastructure Improvement Plan (IIP). To assess development fees, A. R. S. §9-463. 05 requires a municipality to adopt an Infrastructure Improvement Plan (IIP) developed by qualified professionals using generally accepted engineering and planning practices to determine the needs and costs associated with anticipated new development. The municipality must also perform a mandatory fee study to determine its Development Fee structure based on the capital costs identified in the IIP and considering various revenue streams related to new development that will contribute to paying for those capital costs. Both the IIP and the fee study must be updated at least every five (5) years. Note that a city or town that imposes a TPT rate on Construction Contracting that exceeds the TPT rate imposed on the majority of other TPT classifications must count the entire excess portion of those revenues as a contribution to the capital costs when calculating its Development Fee structure. Some of the more significant statutory requirements provide that Development Fees shall: result in a beneficial use to the development; be calculated based on costs identified in the adopted IIP; not exceed a proportionate share of the cost of necessary public services to the development; and be based on the new development receiving the same level of service provided to existing development in the area. The law places limits on the items defined as “necessary public services” for which impact fees can be assessed. The law requires municipalities to adopt a new IIP and a new fee study to change its development fees. The League created a model ordinance that can be used as a guideline for compliance with this law. To download the model ordinance, please click here. For cities and towns that adopted development impact fees in 2014 or later, if an advisory committee is not appointed then a biennial audit is required. A biennial audit of the municipality’s land use assumptions, infrastructure improvements plan, and development fees shall be conducted by qualified professionals who are not employees or officials of the municipality, and who did not prepare the Infrastructure Improvements Plan. The audit shall review the progress of the IIP, including the collection and expenditures of development fees for each project in the Plan, and evaluate any inequities in implementing the Plan or imposing the development fees. The municipality must post the findings of the audit on the municipality’s website and conduct a public hearing on the audit within sixty (60) days of releasing the audit to the public. Highway User Revenue Fund (HURF) HURF funds predominantly consist of State gas tax revenues (18 cents/gallon), and are distributed to cities and towns based on a formula that combines local and county populations and aspects of the “county of origin” for gasoline sales. There are several other smaller contributing taxes and fees that are also directed to the HURF pool of money. The use of HURF is strictly limited to authorized transportation purposes. In accordance with A. R. S. §9-481 your annual audit report must include a “determination” that HURF and any other dedicated State transportation revenues are being used solely for their authorized transportation purposes. We recommend that it be a written affirmation provided in your audit. State law specifically prohibits the use of HURF monies for law enforcement or the administration of traffic safety programs. It also gives the Auditor General authority, upon request of the Joint Legislative Audit Committee, to conduct performance audits on cities and towns receiving HURF monies, and it establishes penalties for those jurisdictions that violate the HURF restrictions. If you have any questions about HURF distributions for your city or town, contact the Financial Management Services Division of ADOT. Jet Fuel Tax All revenues generated by a Jet Fuel excise tax must be placed in a separate account for the exclusive expenditure toward capital or operating costs at the municipal airport, the local airport system, or other local airport facilities owned or operated by the municipality. (A. R. S. §42-6014). Municipal Improvement Districts Reserve Fund Cities and towns may create reserve funds to be used for municipal improvement districts financing using the proceeds of special assessment lien bonds. For questions relating to this, please contact your financial advisor. 6 WIFA The Water Infrastructure Finance Authority (WIFA) is charged with helping communities develop necessary water and wastewater in- frastructure. For information on programs offered by WIFA please send an email to contact@azwifa. gov or call (602) 364-1310. Public Deposits and Pooled Collateral Statutes related to public deposits are in Title 35, Chapter 10, beginning with A. R. S. §35-1201. Uninsured public deposits that are required to be secured by collateral must be deposited in an eligible depository, (A. R. S. §35-1204). An eligible depository is prohibited from accepting any public deposit without the required collateral being deposited with a qualified escrow agent or the Administrator. The required collateral must be 102% of public deposits, less any applicable deposit insurance, and must be valued at current market value, (A. R. S. §35-1207). The list of acceptable collateral that an eligible depository of uninsured public monies is required to deliver is found in with A. R. S. §35-323. Oversight is provided by the Pooled Collateral Administrator in the Office of the State Treasurer. The Administrator is responsible for prescribing and enforcing policies that fix the terms and conditions under which uninsured public deposits must be secured by collateral. Statute establishes the procedures for payment of losses and civil penalties for noncompliance. The Administrator is required to annually assess a fee on every eligible depository to fund enforcement and administration. Government Property Lease Excise Tax (GPLET) The Government Property Lease Excise Tax (GPLET) applies to buildings which are owned by a city, town, or county (the government lessor), but leased by a private party and occupied and used for commercial or industrial purposes. Statutes related to GPLET are in Title 42, Chapter 6, Article 5, beginning with A. R. S. §42-6201. The government lessor must calculate the excise tax for each prime lessee and submit a return to the county treasurer and the lessee. Counties must administer and collect the excise tax, and distribute the revenues to the county, city, school district(s) and community college district, according to the percentages in the distribution formula. Statutes related to GPLET leases significantly changed beginning June 1, 2010. GPLET leases executed within 10 years after a development agreement, ordinance, or resolution that was approved by the governing body prior to June 1, 2010 are grandfathered and remain subject to the prior statutes. For all GPLET leases subject to the current statutes, the most significant recent changes included: government lessors can only abate the GPLET tax for up to 8 years provided the property is located in a central business district; modifications to the definition of a central business district; and increased transparency requirements for government lessors that include publicly posting all leases and related documents in conjunction with the ADOR. For a more in-depth explanation of GPLET, please see the Municipal Budget and Finance Manual. Communication Relating to Elected Officials All expenditures for communications that promote an individual elected public official that includes the official’s name or likeness must be reported to the Arizona Department of Administration (ADOA). Communications required by any statute, ordinance, or rule, and any activities conducted in the normal course of the local government’s operations are exempt from this reporting requirement. (A. R. S. §18-303). Social Security and Medicare Taxes The tax rate for Social Security is 6.2% for the employer and 6.2% for the employee for a total of 12.4%, which applies up to the wage limit of $184,500 for calendar year 2026. The tax rate for Medicare is 1.45% for the employer and 1.45% for the employee for a total of 2.9%, which applies to all wages because there is no maximum salary threshold for Medicare. Wages paid to any individual in excess of $200,000, regardless of filing status, are subject to the Additional Medicare Tax at a rate of 0.9%. Employers are required to begin withholding the Additional Medicare Tax in the pay period that total wages exceed $200,000 and continue doing so until the end of the calendar year. Additional Medicare Tax is only withheld from the employees’ wages – employers do not pay this tax. ASRS Contribution Rates For employees in the Arizona State Retirement System (ASRS), the required contribution rate is evenly divided between the employee and the employer. Contribution rates are set via legislation passed prior to the start of the fiscal year based on the recommendations of the ASRS. For Fiscal Year 2026, from July 1, 2025 through June 30, 2026, employees must contribute 11.86% toward retirement benefits and 0.14% for long-term disability, for a total contribution rate of 12.00%. Employers must also contribute 11.86% and 0.14%, for a total of 12.00%. For Fiscal Year 2027, from July 1, 2026 through June 30, 2027, employees must contribute 11.87% toward retirement benefits and 0.11% for long-term disability, for a total contribution rate of 11.98%. Employers must also contribute 11.87% and 0.11%, for a total of 11.98%. ASRS participating employers that employ an ASRS retired member who returns to work in a position that would be considered an employee position, must pay an Alternate Contribution Rate (ACR) to the ASRS each pay period. The ACR is charged to and paid for by the employer only, and is based on the retiree’s compensation, gross salary, or contract fee. The ACR applies to all ASRS retirees who return to work in any capacity including direct hires and contractors. It applies to all ASRS retirees who return to work for an ASRS employer, regardless of early or normal 7 retirement status, or the number of hours worked in a pay period. For Fiscal Year 2026, the ACR is 9.75%. For Fiscal Year 2027, the ACR is 9.45%. PSPRS Contribution Rates An employer’s recommended contribution rate to the Public Safety Personnel Retirement System (PSPRS) varies by municipality and by employee, depending in part on which of the program’s three Tiers the employee is in, when the employee began PSPRS employment, the benefit options they select, and the employer’s level of unfunded PSPRS liability. A unique annual actuarial valuation report specific to each city and town that employs PSPRS members is posted on the PSPRS website (misc. psprs. com/actuarials. aspx). Refer to your municipality’s specific Actuarial Valuation report to find your employee and employer contribution rates for FY 2026/2027. Employee and employer contribution rates are provided on the “Contribution Rate Summary” table located under the heading, “Contribution Results”. The employee rate for each group is the “Total EE Contribution Rate”, and the municipality’s recommended employer rate is the “Total ER Contribution Rate”. If a retired PSPRS member returns to work in a PSPRS covered position, the employer is required to pay an Alternate Contribution Rate (ACR). The ACR rate is also unique to each employer (with a minimum of 8%). Refer to the “Employer Alternative Contribution Rate” at the bottom of the “Contribution Rate Summary” table. Consumer Price Index In preparing your budget it may be useful to compare previously budgeted items with those anticipated for the upcoming fiscal year. To aid you in doing this, listed below is the consumer price index for the United States West Urban Areas. The index is published by the United States Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics. Using the CPI allows you to compare equivalent values of budgeted items from previous years in terms of current costs by adjusting for inflation. To convert any amount from a prior year to 2026 dollars, multiply the amount by the 2026 Factor for the prior fiscal year in the chart below. For example, to convert a $100 purchase made in 2018 to 2026 dollars, multiplying $100 by the Factor on the 2018 row (1.32) gives you $132.00 in 2026 dollars. West Urban Areas Consumer Price Index (1982–84 = 100) Year Year-end CPI for “All Items” 2026 Factor 2017 254.738 1.36 2018 263.263 1.32 2019 270.350 1.28 2020 275.057 1.26 2021 287.494 1.21 2022 310.509 1.12 2023 323.834 1.07 2024 332.945 1.04 2025 341.850 1.02 2026 346.990 * * Note: 2026 Index figure is through February 2026 We hope the information in this report will be helpful in preparing your budget. If you have any questions contact Lee Grafstrom, Tax Policy Analyst, via email at lgrafstrom@azleague. org. 8 * These are suggested basic steps which may vary depending on the size of the city/town, the complexity of the budget in terms of services offered, taxes, bonds, etc., and the extent of departmental involvement in the budget process. Recommended FY 2027 Budget Calendar Action (NOTE: These dates are sometimes earlier than the statutory deadline, but they are the latest that the League recommends to ensure compliance.) Recommended Date w/o Property Tax Recommended Date WITH Property Tax 1. Distribute budget instructions and work sheets to department heads. Meet with department heads to discuss budget prep as needed. Survey the community to identify priorities of the public.* January / February 2. Compile revenue estimates for the coming fiscal year including local revenues, shared revenues, debt service requirements, etc. Hold budget information meetings for the public to provide their input.* January through March 3. Submit departmental budget estimates and requests to appropriate officials or offices for review. A council work session with department heads may be held in conjunction with this step.* February / March 4. Incorporate resulting changes and prepare the Tentative Budget.* March / April 5. Deliver proposed Tentative Budget to council for review. Following council review, address requested changes and make adjustments.* April / May 6. Receive certified property values from the County Assessor necessary to calculate the property tax levy limit and the final levy limit worksheet. (A.R.S. §42-17052) On or before February 10 On or before February 10 7. Notify the Property Tax Oversight Commission regarding agreement or disagreement with the property tax levy limit. (A.R.S. §42-17054) N/A Within 10 days of receiving values 8. Make the property values provided by the County Assessor available for public inspection. (A.R.S. §42-17055) On or before February 15 On or before February 15 9. Post notice on the city/town website that council will consider an increase in the property tax rate on the date of the property tax levy hearing, not less than 60 days before the hearing in Step 16. (A.R.S. §9-499.15) N/A NLT May 28 10. If necessary, submit information on involuntary tort judgments and appropriate documentation to the Property Tax Oversight Commission for consideration. (A.A.C. 15-12-202) N/A July 1 11. Council must adopt the Tentative Budget no later than the 3rd Monday in July. (A.R.S. §42-17101) NLT July 20 NLT July 6 12. Post Tentative Budget (Schedules A-G) on website within seven (7) business days and keep it posted for at least sixty (60) months. (A.R.S. §42-17105) NLT July 27 NLT July 13 9 ** Truth in Taxation is only necessary if the proposed property tax levy, excluding amounts attributable to new construction, is greater than the amount levied in the previous year. In lieu of publishing the notice, a city or town may mail the notice to all registered voters at least 10 days but not more than 20 days before the hearing. *** This must occur on or before the day on which the Board of Supervisors levies the County tax. Check with your County Board of Supervisors for their deadline for receiving your levy. Dates may need to change to conform to their schedule. The statutory deadline for FY 2027 is August 17, 2026. The recommended dates provided above are the latest dates that the League advises, but most counties require greater advance notice, potentially as early as August 1, 2026. Action (NOTE: These dates are sometimes earlier than the statutory deadline, but they are the latest that the League recommends to ensure compliance.) Recommended Date w/o Property Tax Recommended Date WITH Property Tax 13. Publish a summary of the adopted Tentative Budget once a week for two consecutive weeks. Include the time and place of the Final Budget hearing and indicate where the proposed budget may be examined at the city/town hall, library, and city/town website. (A.R.S. § 42-17103) Week of July 20 Week of July 27 Combine with TNT Notices, below 14. Publish first “Truth in Taxation” (TNT) notice in a paper of general circulation in the city/town. Issue a separate press release with the same information as the published notice. (A.R.S. §42-17107)** N/A Between July 7 and July 13** 15. Publish second “Truth in Taxation” (TNT) notice in a paper of general circulation in the city/town. (A.R.S. §42-17107)** N/A Between July 17 and July 20** 16. Hold public hearing on the Final Budget (and property tax levy; can also be combined with Truth in Taxation hearing). Immediately after this hearing, convene a special meeting to adopt the Final Budget. (A.R.S. §42-17105) August 3 July 27 17. Post Final Budget (Schedules A-G) on website within seven (7) business days and keep it posted for at least sixty (60) months. (A.R.S. §42-17105) After Final Budget adoption After Final Budget adoption 18. Mail a copy of the Truth in Taxation notice, a statement of its publication or mailing, and the result of the council’s vote to the Property Tax Oversight Commission. (A.R.S. §42-17151) Property Tax Oversight Commission 1600 W. Monroe Phoenix, AZ 85007 N/A July 30 19. Adopt property tax levy on or before the 3rd Monday in August. (A.R.S. §42-17151) N/A August 10*** 20. Forward a certified copy of the tax levy ordinance to the County. Note: The tax levy must also be adopted by the Board of Supervisors on or before the third Monday in August. (A.R.S. §42-17151) N/A August 11***