Phoenix GO Bonds: What you should know
Oct. 19, 2023
Phoenix is asking voters for permission to sell $500 million in bonds to pay for creating or renovating infrastructure. GO Bond programs help to fund critical infrastructure and rehabilitation needs of city facilities.
According to the City of Phoenix website, “General obligation (GO) bonds are municipal bonds which provide a way for local governments to finance large capital improvements. A bond program includes both the authority to issue bonds and a listing of the purposes for which the funds may be used. General Obligation Bond Programs, such as the City of Phoenix’s Bond Program, require voter approval. The City of Phoenix is the fifth largest city in the country and has not had a GO Bond Program since 2006.”
District 8 Councilwoman Kesha Hodge Washington is chairing the campaign. Washington claims the bond would not raise taxes.
“It’s a much-needed investment in our city. I just came off an election myself and I figured I could lend my talents to help ensure that these measures pass,” Hodge Washington said.
The ballot-by-mail election begins this week.
How voters can submit their ballots:
- ballot by mail
- A drop box or voting location
- In-person by requesting a replacement ballot
The four bond questions would establish the authorization to sell:
- Up to $214,000,000 in GO bonds for fire, police, roadway and pedestrian infrastructure projects
- Up to $108,615,000 in GO bonds for library, parks and historic preservation projects
- Up to $114,385,000 in GO bonds for workforce and job creation, education, economic development, environment, sustainability, arts, and culture projects
- Up to $63,000,000 in GO bonds for affordable housing and senior center projects.
“We had the Financial Capacity Committee look at what it is we could borrow without raising our taxes,” Hodge Washington said. “$500 million was the amount they determined that would not increase the property tax.”
Election day is Nov. 7, and voters have until 7:00 p.m. to turn their ballots in.