The City of Buckeye hosted a town hall meeting Thursday in Tartesso at Desert Sunset Elementary School. The two-and-a-half-hour-long meeting was led by Mayor Eric Orsborn and several city government leaders and administrators. It focused on upcoming ballot measures, traffic infrastructure and commercial and residential growth and expansion.
The meeting covered a lot of ground. Here’s everything you need to know:
GENERAL OBLIGATIONS BOND: Prop 494, Prop 495
- What is it?
If approved in the November election, the general obligation bond will provide funds for infrastructure and public safety projects in the city. This is the Buckeye’s first bond election in nearly 40 years. In December 2023, City Council formed the 2024 Buckeye General Obligation Bond Exploratory Committee which met through April and approved the bond election with two questions for voter consideration: Proposition 494 for public safety and Proposition 495 for streets and transportation
“We are, no kidding, in rapid growth. I think that’s an understatement,” Orsborn said. “It’s crucial to have a plan to invest in infrastructure. … What we need to do is have money available where we can build out some of that stuff that is needed for growth right now, that is happening right now, and into the future.”
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How is it funded?
The bond is funded through a secondary property tax combined with the existing primary property tax rate, not to exceed $2.25 million. The current primary property tax is $1.60 and the GO bond would increase that by $0.65.
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How will it affect your wallet?
You can do the math: Take your limited property value and divide it by 1,000 x 0.65. That number is your annual cost impact.
You can find your property’s value at www.mcassessor.maricopa.gov.
The formula: Limited Property Value / 1,000 x 0.65
Example provided by city: $226,597 / 1,000 x 0.65 = $148 per year
You can also use the city’s calculator HERE.
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Proposition 494: Public safety
Proposition 494 requests the approval of $137 million for projects including a $97 million centralized operations public safety headquarters, $30 million for public safety personnel training facilities, $21 million for the Westpark Fire Station and $19 million for the Victory Fire Station.
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Proposition 495: Streets and Transportation
Proposition 495 requests the approval of $145 million for street infrastructure that aims to improve traffic and increase safety for drivers. This includes $48 million to widen Indian School Rd. from Jackrabbit to Perryville, increasing 303 access. It also includes $11 million to for lighting improvements along Sun Valley Parkway. The proposition will seek to eliminate "pinch-points” throughout the city, according to the city’s website.
AIRPORT
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A new master plan is in the works
The city is creating a new master plan for the airport that Orsborn says may include the accommodation of passenger traffic, cargo transportation and military operations. Plans for the runway are currently being discussed with Luke Airforce Base. The master plan would be put into action in the next five to 10 years.
PARKS AND RECREATION
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A new master plan is in the works — and the city wants your input
The master plan aims to create a long-term vision for Parks and Recreation, look at funding options, identify gaps in programming and offerings, providing a more “equitable distribution of services” and seeking partnership options. The city is looking for resident feedback through an interactive website here.
“Staff is talking to the citizens of Buckeye and saying, ‘When we grow, we want you to have an increase in parks and recreation,’” Orsborn said. “It’s an incredible opportunity for you to speak the future of Parks and Rec in Buckeye.”
PROP 479: TRANSPORTATION IMPROVEMENTS
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What is it?
Proposition 479 isn’t new. The half-cent sales tax was passed in 1985 and renewed in 2004 to fund Maricopa County traffic infrastructure. It’s expiring at the end of 2025, however, and whether or not it’s renewed is up to voter in November. Proposition 479 will secure $15 billion in the next two decades if approved. Learn more on the city’s website.
“It leverages more money from the federal government to build out highways that we want to see expanded and some of the additional traffic interchanges we want to see increased in future plans,” Orsborn said. “It’ll keep the commuter travel times the same in 2050 as they are now, hopefully better, but we at least have to keep up with the growth now.”
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How will it affect your wallet?
It won’t — at least not any more than it has been since 1985. The bond will not increase taxes, it will only continue the half-cent tax already in place.
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What will it do?
- According to the city’s website, if approved, Proposition 479 would “help keep commuter travel times the same in 2050 as they are now, even with growth expected in the valley.”
- Fund projects in the city including the Jackrabbit Trail and I-10 interchange and widening the I-10 from Citrus Rd. to SR-85.
PROP 486
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What is it?
Proposition 486 adjusts the Arizona Expenditure Limit for Maricopa Community Colleges, adjusting the base limit of the existing budget. According to Maricopa Community Colleges, the base limit is created through a mathematical formula that would be adjusted to accommodate growth that has happened in the past 44 years.
“A lot of things have changed in the past 44 years, including the expenses of delivering current academic services and infrastructures associated with the high-impact workforce development programs that meet critical needs for Arizona’s economy,” the website reads.
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How will it affect your wallet?
It won’t. This proposition adds no new money to MCC’s budget. According to the town hall meeting’s slide, “It simply allows Maricopa Community College’s the flexibility to use its existing budget.”
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How will it affect Buckeye?
Estrella Mountain Community College is the closest MCC school to Buckeye. Orsborn said that the college is working to custom-fit curriculum and program offerings to businesses in Buckeye, particularly manufacturing.
“Moving forward, that is where the workers come from for those big businesses that are coming,” he said. “What this does is it removes a 1980 or 1982 expenditure limitation they have that is based on a formula that is totally outdated.”
WATER
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“We’re not out of water” — but why and how?
Orsborn told the town hall meeting attendees to repeat after him: “One, two, three: We are not out of water!”
This is because every home built in Buckeye has a water certificate which ensures water supply for 100 years. These certificates are provided through the Arizona Department of Water Resources.
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Paused water certificates mean we need a more diversified water portfolio
Although Buckeye still has certificates able to be used to accommodate growth, the state has put a pause on issuing any additional certificates. This means Buckeye’s water portfolio needs to be diversified, Orsborn said.
“If we build everything now and as planned and then put wells in place, that may or may not make sense. Then, in 100 years, we will have an unmet demand,” he said. Orsborn asked residents to think of the wells as a bathtub. “Wells at the top of the bathtub, up higher that don’t have deep water they’re pulling from, will begin to go dry 85 years from now.”
“Who cares?” yelled someone in the crowd.
“Well, we do,” Orsborn replied, “But it’s not as dire of a concern as it’s made out to be.”
Studies are looking into avenues to meet that long-term demand. A handful of options were mentioned, though not in detail, including reusing wastewater and “left over” water as farming decreases.
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So, are we running out of water or not?
The messages may sound conflicting. Does Buckeye have water coverage for the next 100 years or not? The answer, Orsborn said, is yes: If you live in Buckeye you will have water for the next 100 years because your home is covered under the water certificates already provided to the city. Any home built in Buckeye will have coverage under the amount of certificates already issued.
“Our water future is secure,” he said. “If you live here, you live in a home that has a ticket of water certification on it that ensures you will have water for 100 years.”
THE DEVELOPMENT SERVICES DEPARTMENT
This portion of the town hall meeting was led by Development Services Director Brian Craig. A summary of the information presented is as follows:
- Growth is projected in the following area: Access to regional transportation, existing services and utilities, gradual westward expansion and infill with greater density at nodes.
- Buckeye’s population is expected to increase to 193,600 by 2030 and 295,400 by 2040, according to Maricopa Association of Governments, the U.S. Census Bureau and the City of Buckeye numbers.
- Buckeye is adding 2,000-3000 new homes annual. Craig said the water certificates issue may impact that growth down the road, but he is “confident it will work itself out.”
- Buckeye is only 15-16% built-out, with immense capability for future growth.
ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT
This portion of the town hall meeting was led by City Traffic Engineer John Willett.
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The city is updating its Transportation Master Plan — and is seeking your input
This new master plan will look into traffic infrastructure including streets, railways, the airport and transit options. This is updating the previous 2019 TMP and is anticipated to be completed by the end of this summer. Provide your input in the city’s survey here.
More updates are below:
- A study is being conducted to assess safer school routes for Tartesso Elementary and Desert Sunset Elementary.
- The city is creating a capacity analysis in the form of a database program which allows engineers to track what intersections are at capacity or will be soon.
- The Transportation Safety Plan will include another database to track intersections at risk for potential safety hazards to vehicles and pedestrians.
- Willett and his team have their eyes on the bottleneck at I-10 and Sun Valley Parkway and the barrier that White Tanks provides to lateral transportation into Phoenix.
- The Engineering Department knows the Jackrabbit Trail interchange is a problem. There are still cattle guards on the off-ramp, for example. It is looking into solutions (see the information above on Proposition 495).
- Willett cannot be everywhere at once. If you have an issue with a section of roadway where you live, he said you can email him at [email protected].
BUCKEYE CONNECTS: ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT OVERVIEW
This portion of the town hall meeting was led by Economic Development Director Suzie Boyles. A summary is as follows.
- Everyone wants to know why Tartesso doesn’t have a grocery store yet. The area was recently allocated for a QuikTrip at Van Buren and Sun Valley, but that’s not the same as a grocery store. Boyles said the city is approaching large grocers and presenting data on high-growth areas throughout the city to attract business. This process, she said, takes time. For example, the Costco at Verrado and the I-10 took six years from start to finish.
- The Landing is a work in progress and Boyles called it the next Tempe Marketplace which will offer shopping, entertainment and restaurants.
- New medical offices are coming to Sundance with the goal of expanding services so residents can access all their health care needs in the city rather than traveling to Phoenix. This includes hospitals by Banner and Abrazo Community Health Network at Verrado and the I-10.
- The new Frys in the Miller district broke ground and is slated for completion by the end of next year.
QUESTION AND ANSWER CRIME TIME
Residents submitted a plethora of questions at the end of the town hall meeting. A couple of those questions are below.
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What’s being done about the homeless population?
Buckeye Police Department Operations Commander Mike Saltz said officers take enforcement action against individuals who may be causing issues such as loitering or urban camping in parks. However, summer is a dangerous time of year for people who are unhoused and services are needed for those living outdoors in the dangerous elements.
“Most of the time, it’s not people committing crime,” he said, “so we offer them services, especially this time of year.”
Orsborn said that the unhoused population of Buckeye has decreased, with this year's survey counting 28 people in total, a reduction from 35 last year.
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What is the Buckeye Police Department doing to deal with increases in crime as the population increases?
Saltz said crime is actually trending down slightly, though not by much. In the past five years of his employment, the department has grown from 94 to 140 officers to accommodate the new growth.
“We have grown very fast and we are trying to get our police department growing at a rate to keep the level of services as high as we can,” he said. “We want to make sure that, as we grow, we are keeping track of that as much as we can.”
Multi-housing complexes and retail area developments are part of that forecasting, he said.