The Goodyear city council is likely moving forward with an off-cycle bond election draft for $232 million that will increase property taxes to address shortcomings in traffic safety and earmark money for an operations facility.

The move came during a work-study session that outlined favorable off-cycle polling for $95 million in traffic safety enhancements and an unfavorably polled $40 million facility.

“Within the facilities category, the committee believed that a need for a Municipal Operation Complex was established, however the project specifically did not have success in the survey,” wrote Jared Askelson, deputy finance chair in the agenda item.

Askelson recommended setting aside the extra $40 million for future elections, where the additional tax would be received favorably.

Councilmember Vicki Gillis objected to the polling results and to the deputy finance chair’s use of “aside.”

“So let's use different terminology,” she said. “I don't like set aside, because set aside …  it sounds like there's a fund here and we've got the money when in fact, it's going to come back to us. This is money, you're going to have to come back and ask us for again. So let's use different terminology.”

According to Askelson,  the overall property tax rate will be in accordance with published financial policy of at or below $1.74 per $100 of assessed valuation (AV). According to Goodyear’s website, the AV is the state’s limited property value multiplied by 10%.

However, Askelson and Mayor Joe Pizzillo said the tax rate would still be the same at $1.74, despite the $40 million addition.

The committee did not discuss the total increase in taxes each homeowner would see in either bond scenario.

The bond also earmarks $80 million for public safety purposes, and $17 million for parks and recreation purposes.

The proposed tax increase comes after the Agua Fria High School District and Liberty Elementary School District discussed the possibility of bond elections of their own. If approved, those districts could raise secondary taxes over a period of years.

Council direction will formally hear the call for election action during the May 22 meeting.