Queen Creek voters will have the opportunity to vote on Proposition 464 (Permanent Base Adjustment) and Proposition 465 (Southwest Gas Franchise Agreement) on the Aug. 2 ballot. 

Prop 464 is a Permanent Base Adjustment that does not raise or impose taxes, and it does not allow the town to spend more than it receives in revenue. It allows the town to create a balanced budget and spend revenues collected on priorities identified by the town council.

The state of Arizona imposes an expenditure limitation on all Arizona cities and towns. This expenditure limitation is based on a formula adopted by the state Legislature in 1980, which took place prior to the town of Queen Creek’s incorporation in 1989. The formula determines the amount of money that can be used to fund municipal services each year, regardless of the money the town collects.

Since incorporation, Queen Creek residents have voted in favor of an alternative expenditure limitation, or “Home Rule,” which gives the town local control over its own budget limits. Instead of going to voters every four years to approve Home Rule, the town is seeking a permanent base adjustment for local control.

If passed, permanent base adjustment would permanently increase the town’s base amount so that when the state’s expenditure limitation formula is applied, it would result in a limitation that more closely aligns with the town’s annual budget.

Prop 465 is a Southwest Gas Franchise Agreement that would allow Southwest Gas Corporation to use the town’s rights-of-way for gas utility purposes for 25 years.

Register to vote at Servicearizona.com. The deadline to register to vote in the primary election is July 5, 2022.