Bond Exploratory Committee Election Process

Why bonds? 
• A bond election is the means by which the residents of the City of Chandler provide 
authorization for the city to issue bonds to fund large capital projects that are part of our 
well-defined Capital Improvement Program (CIP). 
• Bonded debt is the primary mechanism established by State statute that 
enables municipalities to build, maintain, and replace public assets and 
infrastructure.  
• Chandler issues tax-exempt bonds to fund almost 70% of the projects in 
the CIP.  
• Chandler’s interest rate on its bonds is low due to the City’s well-managed debt program 
and superior AAA bond ratings; the highest rating given.  
 
Why would the city want to look at adding additional authorization? 
• The need for a bond election is due to the existing authorization being insufficient to fully 
fund the infrastructure needs in the CIP.  
• The depletion of the funding has occurred at a more rapid pace than 
anticipated when costing projects prior to the 2021 bond election (the last 
time authorization was obtained), mainly due to significant inflation in 
capital project costs and some new project needs added in the updated 
10-year CIP. 
• Existing authorization is depleted beginning FY 2025-26 for Police, FY 2026-27 for Streets 
and Parks, and FY 2028-29 for Fire.   
 
What is the role of the Bond Exploratory Committee? 
• Evaluate capital project needs in the Chandler 
• Determining which projects are priorities, and ensure bond authorization 
is available to allow the city to sell bonds to fund projects 
• Recommend to either move forward, or not, with a bond election for specific projects or 
project groups/categories that are planned 
 
What would the bond authorization recommendation look like? 
• Bond authorization is grouped into categories of spending such as the following evaluated 
for the 2021 bond election with subcommittees discussing projects in their assigned areas 
o Park and Recreation/Community Services  
o Public Safety/Police and Fire 
o Public Works/Street, Transit and Water/Wastwater 
o Municipal Facilities 
o Information Technology (did not request authorization) 
o Airport (did not request authorization) 
Bond Exploratory Committee/Election Process 
2024-2025

• The Bond Exploratory Steering Committee (made up of chairs from each subcommittee) 
with the help of the Finance Subcommittee, makes recommendations to the Mayor and 
Council. 
 
What would the Bond Exploratory Committee time commitment be?  
• The Steering Committee and subcommittees would kick-off in late September 2024. 
• Each subcommittee would begin meeting bi-weekly or monthly during the 
months of October and November to review and prioritize project needs, 
then formulate a recommendation to the Steering Committee. 
• Subcommittee recommendations would be reviewed with the Steering 
Committee who would deliberate in December and January for final 
incorporation into a recommendation brought to Mayor & Council in February or March.  
• Call for Election must be by May 8, 2025.