Yes vote urged on Glendale bonds

Independent Newsmedia

I am a retired Glendale city councilmember with 24 years of service as the Yucca district councilmember. I serve as the chairperson of the Glendale Bond Committee 2025.

Legally, the committee as a whole may not take a position publicly for or against these bond questions. We may, as individuals, express our opinions publicly.

On Nov. 4, 2025, Glendale voters will be asked to decide two questions asking for the authority to issue bonds in the coming years. Question 1 is in the amount of $30 million for flood control. Question 2 is in the amount of $35 million for renovation of the city’s operations center.

This past August, we experienced monsoon storms. As a result, you may have driven on some flooded streets. One of the worst flooding problems occurs at the intersection of 43rd Avenue, Bethany Home Road and Grand Avenue. Approval of Question 1 will fix this issue as well as other severely flooded locations throughout the city.

Many departments, such as transportation and sanitation, which maintain the city’s infrastructure, work out of the old Spring City Knitting Mill. It is a 40-year-old complex and some of the buildings have never been renovated. Others still have swamp coolers and inadequate working space.

It’s time to upgrade this complex to provide better working conditions for city employees.

Voters often ask if these bonds raise property taxes. The answer is no. For the past seven years, property taxes have remained at the same rate or even lowered.

When you see an increase in your property tax bill, it is usually due to Maricopa County or a school district rate increase.

Glendale’s policy is to only issue bonds when others have been paid, thereby creating capacity to issue new bonds without a property tax increase.

These requests are not frivolous. Funds will be used to maintain critical infrastructure within the city. We all take pride in Glendale and part of that pride means we must maintain our streets and the employee environment. I urge you to vote yes on Glendale Questions 1 and 2 on Nov. 4.

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