CALL OF 11-03-2026 SPECIAL ELECTION RESOLUTION_5-14-2026.DOCX
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1 Resolution No. R2026.48 RESOLUTION NO. R2026.48 A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF TEMPE, ARIZONA, ORDERING AND CALLING A SPECIAL ELECTION TO COINCIDE WITH THE STATEWIDE GENERAL ELECTION ON NOVEMBER 3, 2026, IN AND FOR THE CITY OF TEMPE, ARIZONA, TO SUBMIT TO THE QUALIFIED ELECTORS THEREOF A PROPOSITION FOR A NEW TRANSACTION PRIVILEGE (SALES) TAX AND USE TAX OF FIVE-TENTHS OF ONE PERCENT (0.5%), EXCEPT FOR THE PRIVILEGE (SALES) TAX ON FOOD FOR HOME CONSUMPTION, WITH 1) THREE-TENTHS OF ONE PERCENT (0.3%) TO BE ALLOCATED TO ENHANCE PUBLIC SAFETY AND STRENGTHEN THE OVERALL SECURITY OF TEMPE’S PARKS AND NEIGHBORHOODS, INCLUDING FUNDING FOR ESSENTIAL PUBLIC SAFETY INFRASTRUCTURE, OPERATIONS, AND SERVICES FOR POLICE, FIRE, EMERGENCY OPERATIONS, SAFETY AND SECURITY PROGRAMS, AND CRIME PREVENTION THROUGH ENVIRONMENTAL DESIGN; 2) ONE-TENTH OF ONE PERCENT (0.1%) ALLOCATED TO THE IMPROVEMENT AND OPERATION OF TEMPE’S PUBLIC TRANSIT SYSTEM AND MULTIMODAL PROJECTS, INCLUDING PEDESTRIAN AND BICYCLE INFRASTRUCTURE; AND, 3) ONE-TENTH OF ONE PERCENT (0.1%) TO EXPAND AND STRENGTHEN TEMPE PRE EARLY CARE AND PRESCHOOL EDUCATION AND BROADEN ACCESS FOR INCOME-ELIGIBLE TEMPE RESIDENTS. WHEREAS, the Tempe City Charter, Article V, Section 5.02, provides the City Council with the authority to levy a transaction privilege (sales) tax and use tax and to submit such tax to the qualified electors of the City at a special or general election; and WHEREAS, Arizona Revised Statutes (A.R.S.) § 42-6006 also authorizes a city or town to submit any issue relating to a transaction privilege tax, sales, use, franchise or other similar tax or fee, however denominated, to the qualified electors of the city or town at any regular or special municipal election; and WHEREAS, the City’s current transaction privilege and use tax rate, authorized by the voters, is 1.8 percent (1.2 percent General Fund, 0.5 percent Transit Tax, and 0.1 percent Arts & Culture Tax); and, WHEREAS, the City Council desires to submit to the qualified electors of the City a proposed new transaction privilege (sales) tax and use tax of five-tenths of one percent (0.5%), except for the privilege (sales) tax on food for home consumption, with three-tenths of one percent (0.3%) to enhance public safety and strengthen the overall security of Tempe’s parks and neighborhoods, including funding for essential public safety infrastructure, operations, and 2 Resolution No. R2026.48 services for police, fire, emergency operations, safety and security programs, and crime prevention through environmental design; one-tenth of one percent (0.1%) increase for the improvement and operation of Tempe’s public transit system and multimodal projects, including pedestrian and bicycle infrastructure; and, one-tenth of one percent (0.1%) increase to expand and strengthen Tempe PRE early care and preschool education as a high-quality, City-supported early education program, and to broaden access for income-eligible Tempe residents; WHEREAS, if the proposition is approved by the qualified electors, Tempe’s combined tax rate would increase from 1.8 percent to 2.3 percent, beginning January 1, 2027; and, WHEREAS, the City Council finds that it is in the best interests of the City and its residents to order and call a Special Election for this purpose on November 3, 2026; NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE MAYOR AND COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF TEMPE, ARIZONA, AS FOLLOWS: Section 1. That a Special Election, in and for the City of Tempe, Arizona, is hereby ordered and called to coincide with the Statewide General Election to be held on November 3, 2026, at which time there shall be submitted to the qualified electors of the City the proposition set forth in the Official Ballot. Section 2. That the Official Ballot shall be in substantially the form attached hereto as Exhibit A. Section 3. (A) That notice of the Election shall be given by mailing an informational pamphlet (the “Informational Pamphlet”) to each household within the City that contains a registered voter not less than thirty-five (35) days before the date of the Election. (B) That the Informational Pamphlet shall be prepared by the City Clerk and shall comply with the requirements of A.R.S. § 9-826. (C) That for a sales tax measure, the Informational Pamphlet shall include the amount of the proposed tax increase as required by law. Section 4. (A) That arguments supporting or opposing the measure to be published in the Informational Pamphlet shall be filed with the City Clerk no later than Wednesday, August 5, 2026, at 5:00 p.m. (B) Each argument shall not exceed 300 words and shall comply with all applicable statutory requirements. (C) That the City Clerk is hereby authorized to request arguments “for” and “against” the subject matter of the Election by providing notice in the form and by the means attached as Exhibit B hereto (the “Request for Arguments”). The City Clerk is authorized to revise the Request for Arguments as necessary to comply with all applicable laws. Section 5. That the City Clerk is hereby authorized and directed to have the Official Ballot printed and to provide all necessary election materials. 3 Resolution No. R2026.48 Section 6. That in order to comply with the Voting Rights Act of 1965, the following materials pertaining to the Election shall be translated into Spanish and mailed or distributed in each instance where mailing or distributing of such materials is required, to-wit: Request for Arguments, Informational Pamphlet, Official Ballot, Absentee/Early Voting Materials and Voting Instructions. Section 7. (A) That the Election shall be held, conducted, and canvassed in conformity with the provisions of the Tempe City Charter and the general election laws of the State of Arizona, except as otherwise provided by law, and only such persons shall be permitted to vote at the Election who are qualified electors of the City. (B) That absentee/early voting with respect to the Election shall be permitted in accordance with the provisions of Title 16, Chapter 4, Article 8, Arizona Revised Statutes. (C) That the City Clerk is authorized to coordinate with the Maricopa County Elections Department for the conduct of the Election, including entering into any necessary agreements. (D) That the City Clerk is authorized and directed, if necessary, to enter into a contract with the County Recorder of the County to obtain precinct registers for the Election and to enter into an agreement with the Elections Department of the County to conduct the Election for the City. (E) That all expenditures as may be necessary to order, notice, hold and administer the Election are hereby authorized, which expenditures shall be paid from current operating funds of the City. (F) That the City Clerk is hereby authorized to take all actions necessary to carry out the purposes of this Resolution and to conduct the Election. Section 8. (A) That the official returns from the Election shall be made to the Mayor and Council of the City within twenty (20) days from the date of the Election and the Election shall be canvassed and the results thereof certified by the Mayor and Council of the City at a meeting to be held within twenty (20) days after the date of the Election, as provided by law. (B) That the City Clerk on behalf of the Mayor and Council of the City shall file and record in the office of the County Recorder of the County a certificate disclosing with respect to the Election the purpose of the Election, the total number of votes cast and the total number of votes for and against creating the indebtedness and stating whether or not the indebtedness is ordered. Section 9. That if a majority of the qualified electors of the City voting at the election vote in favor of the proposed transaction privilege (sales) tax and use tax stated herein, the City Manager or designee is directed to bring forth to the Council an ordinance for the purpose of levying the taxes approved herein. 4 Resolution No. R2026.48 PASSED AND ADOPTED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF TEMPE, ARIZONA, this 14th day of May, 2026. ............................................................................... Corey D. Woods, Mayor ATTEST: ...................................................................... Kara A. DeArrastia, City Clerk APPROVED AS TO FORM: ...................................................................... Eric C. Anderson, City Attorney 5 Resolution No. R2026.48 CERTIFICATION I hereby certify that the foregoing Resolution No. R2026.48 was duly passed and adopted by the Mayor and the Council of the City of Tempe, Arizona, at a regular meeting held on the 14th day of May, 2026, and the vote was ayes and nays and that the Mayor and Councilmembers were present thereat. ............................................................................... Kara A. DeArrastia, City Clerk A-1 EXHIBIT A FORM OF OFFICIAL BALLOT PROPOSITION 424 Official Title: A proposition submitted by the Tempe City Council, pursuant to the Tempe City Charter § 5.02, for a new transaction privilege (sales) tax and use tax, relating to public safety and security enhancements; transit and multimodal projects, including pedestrian and bicycle infrastructure; and Tempe PRE early care and preschool education. Descriptive Title: Effective January 1, 2027, shall a new five-tenths of one percent (0.5%) transaction privilege (sales) tax and use tax, except for the privilege (sales) tax on food for home consumption, be levied and allocated as follows? 1) three-tenths of one percent (0.3%) to be designated to enhance public safety and strengthen the overall security of Tempe’s parks and neighborhoods, including funding for essential public safety infrastructure, operations, and services for police, fire, emergency operations, safety and security programs, and crime prevention through environmental design; 2) one-tenth of one percent (0.1%) to be designated for the improvement and operation of Tempe’s public transit system and multimodal projects, including pedestrian and bicycle infrastructure; and, 3) one-tenth of one percent (0.1%) designated to expand and strengthen Tempe PRE early care and preschool education as a high-quality, City-supported early education program, and to broaden access for income-eligible Tempe residents. The City’s current tax rate, authorized by the voters, is 1.8 percent (1.2 percent General Fund, 0.5 percent Transit Tax, and 0.1 percent Arts & Culture Tax). A “YES” vote shall have the effect of approving a new five-tenths of one percent (0.5%) transaction privilege (sales) tax and use tax to enhance public safety and strengthen the overall security of Tempe’s parks; neighborhoods and public spaces; transit and multimodal projects, including pedestrian and bicycle infrastructure; and expand and strengthen Tempe PRE early care and preschool education as a high-quality, City-supported early education program, and to broaden access for income-eligible Tempe residents effective January 1, 2027. A “NO” vote shall have the effect of not approving a new five-tenths of one percent (0.5%) transaction privilege (sales) tax and use tax to enhance public safety and strengthen the overall security of Tempe’s parks; neighborhoods and public spaces; transit and multimodal projects, including pedestrian and bicycle infrastructure; and expand and strengthen Tempe PRE early care and preschool education as a high-quality, City-supported early education program, and to broaden access for income-eligible Tempe residents effective January 1, 2027. YES NO B-1 EXHIBIT B FORM OF REQUEST FOR ARGUMENTS REQUEST FOR ARGUMENTS FOR AND AGAINST A PROPOSITION TO BE SUBMITTED TO THE VOTERS OF THE CITY OF TEMPE, ARIZONA, AT A SPECIAL ELECTION TO COINCIDE WITH THE STATEWIDE GENERAL ELECTION ON NOVEMBER 3, 2026, FOR A NEW TRANSACTION PRIVILEGE (SALES) TAX AND USE TAX OF FIVE-TENTHS OF ONE PERCENT (0.5%), EXCEPT FOR THE PRIVILEGE (SALES) TAX ON FOOD FOR HOME CONSUMPTION, WITH 1) THREE-TENTHS OF ONE PERCENT (0.3%) TO BE ALLOCATED TO ENHANCE PUBLIC SAFETY AND STRENGTHEN THE OVERALL SECURITY OF TEMPE’S PARKS AND NEIGHBORHOODS, INCLUDING FUNDING FOR ESSENTIAL PUBLIC SAFETY INFRASTRUCTURE, OPERATIONS, AND SERVICES FOR POLICE, FIRE, EMERGENCY OPERATIONS, SAFETY AND SECURITY PROGRAMS, AND CRIME PREVENTION THROUGH ENVIRONMENTAL DESIGN; 2) ONE-TENTH OF ONE PERCENT (0.1%) ALLOCATED TO THE IMPROVEMENT AND OPERATION OF TEMPE’S PUBLIC TRANSIT SYSTEM AND MULTIMODAL PROJECTS, INCLUDING PEDESTRIAN AND BICYCLE INFRASTRUCTURE; AND, 3) ONE-TENTH OF ONE PERCENT (0.1%) TO EXPAND AND STRENGTHEN TEMPE PRE EARLY CARE AND PRESCHOOL EDUCATION AND BROADEN ACCESS FOR INCOME-ELIGIBLE TEMPE RESIDENTS. Pursuant to Resolution No. R2026.48 adopted by the Mayor and Council of the City of Tempe, Arizona (the “City”), on May 14, 2026 (the “Resolution”), a Special Election in and for the City was ordered and called to be held on November 3, 2026 (the “Election”). An informational pamphlet will be mailed to Tempe households with registered voters and will include arguments for and against the proposition to be considered at the Election, as follows: Proposition 424, a new five-tenths of one percent (0.5%) transaction privilege (sales) tax and use tax, except for the privilege (sales) tax on food for home consumption, to be levied and allocated as follows: 1) three-tenths of one percent (0.3%) to be designated to enhance public safety and strengthen the overall security of Tempe’s parks and neighborhoods, including funding for essential public safety infrastructure, operations, and services for police, fire, emergency operations, safety and security programs, and crime prevention through environmental design; B-2 2) one-tenth of one percent (0.1%) to be designated for the improvement and operation of Tempe’s public transit system and multimodal projects, including pedestrian and bicycle infrastructure; and, 3) one-tenth of one percent (0.1%) designated to expand and strengthen Tempe PRE early care and preschool education as a high-quality, City-supported early education program, and to broaden access for income-eligible Tempe residents. The full text of the proposition is included in the Resolution, which is available at the Office of the City Clerk, 31 East Fifth Street, Tempe, Arizona 85281, and on the City’s website at www.tempe.gov/election. Submission of Arguments Any person interested in submitting an argument for or against the proposition must file the argument with the City Clerk no later than 5:00 p.m., Arizona Time, on Wednesday, August 5, 2026. Arguments must be submitted in electronic format to: clerk@tempe.gov. Requirements for Arguments In accordance with Arizona Revised Statutes: Each argument filed shall not exceed three hundred (300) words in length. Each argument shall include a sworn statement from the person or persons sponsoring the argument. If the argument is sponsored by an organization, it shall include the sworn statement of two executive officers of the organization. If the argument is sponsored by a political committee, it shall include the sworn statement of the committee’s chairperson or treasurer. If the argument is submitted by an individual and not on behalf of an organization or a political committee, it shall include the sworn statement from the individual. The names of persons and entities submitting arguments will be included in the informational pamphlet. The person or persons signing the argument shall provide their residence address and a telephone number. This information will not appear in the informational pamphlet, except that the person’s city or town and state of residence will be published. Deposit Requirement At the time of filing, the person submitting an argument must deposit one hundred dollars ($100.00) per argument to offset a portion of the cost of printing and distributing the informational pamphlet. B-3 Payment must be submitted at the time of filing and may be made by the following methods: o Credit card (by phone at 480-350-8242 or in person at the City Clerk’s Office, 31 East Fifth Street, Tempe, AZ 85281); o Check (payable to the City of Tempe, submitted in person or by mail to the City Clerk’s Office, 31 East Fifth Street, Tempe, AZ 85281); or o Cash (in person at the City Clerk’s Office, 31 East Fifth Street, Tempe, AZ 85281). Arguments filed that do not comply with the above requirements may not be included in the informational pamphlet. If you have any questions about the foregoing, please contact the City Clerk’s Office at 480-350- 8242. /s/ Kara A. DeArrastia ........................................................... Clerk, City of Tempe, Arizona [This Request for Arguments (along with the Spanish translation thereof) should be posted at all places at which notices of meetings of the Mayor and Council of the City are posted and will be published in a newspaper of general circulation in the jurisdiction of the City of Tempe.]