Frequently Asked Questions

The Avondale City Council has submitted two General Obligation Bond propositions to voters for an election this November.  Proposition 404 invests in parks, trails, and libraries throughout the city.  Proposition 405 invests in fire, emergency, and police facilities.   

The City of Avondale last held a General Obligation Bond Election in 2007.  Since then, the population has grown by 23%, increasing from 79,000 to more than 97,000 residents.  To continue meeting the needs of this expanding community and support key projects, the City is seeking voter approval for additional funding, while keeping the overall property tax rate unchanged.  Much like a home mortgage, bonds offer a secure and fiscally responsible way for cities to finance large scale projects.  However, before issuing these bonds, voter approval is required.   

The City of Avondale is dedicated to maintaining stable tax rates. These bond proposals are designed to improve infrastructure without increasing the City’s overall property tax rate. To achieve this, new bonds will be issued as older ones are retired. The City’s property tax rate will remain unchanged. The combined property tax rate (primary and secondary) will not rise. For homeowners, the portion of taxes funding these new bonds would amount to an estimated $4.82 per month for every $100,000 of assessed property valuation. Please note that the taxable value shown on your tax bill is the limited property value, which may differ from its market value.   

Under Arizona law, proceeds from bonds approved in a special bond election must be used solely for the purposes outlined in the ballot questions. In this case, the funds are allocated for parks, trails, and public safety projects. They cannot be used for staff salaries, daily operations, events, or any other purpose beyond what is specified. 

This bond program aims to fund projects that will be completed over the next 15 years. If approved by voters, the projects will be reviewed and prioritized by the Avondale City Council, then incorporated into the Capital Improvement Plan (CIP) to establish their completion timelines. The CIP serves as the City’s strategic guide for developing and maintaining essential infrastructure to support Avondale’s ongoing growth and development. It provides residents and businesses with a clear vision of the City’s long-term goals for capital improvements, along with insight into the City’s infrastructure needs. The approved CIP reflects the priorities set by City Council and outlines the funding sources for these projects. 

If Propositions 404 and 405 are not approved, projects like park renovations, shade improvements, trail system upgrades, and public safety facility improvement may face delays, indefinite postponement, or scaling back due to available funding.  As older bonds are paid off, property taxes would decrease. However, without the approval of new bonds, the City may need to prioritize which projects move forward. This could mean that some proposed bond projects are completed, but potentially at the expense of other infrastructure or public safety projects that also require funding. 

A General Obligation (GO) Bond is a financing tool that allows local governments to fund significant capital projects. Avondale’s strong financial management has earned it bond ratings, of “AAA” from Fitch Ratings and “AA1” from Moody's Ratings. The debt tied to GO bonds is repaid through secondary property taxes, which are legally restricted to this specific purpose.  

Avondale is planning upcoming events and open houses where voters can attend to ask questions and learn more.  Voters can also visit www.AvondaleAZ.gov/Bond for more information.