Tempe’s Prop. 424 unpopular in preliminary election results
Tempe City Hall in downtown Tempe.
Special to the Independent/Arianna Grainey
Tempe’s sales tax proposition in the Nov. 3 election, Prop. 424, is unpopular in early results with “no” votes leading by over 10% after months of campaigning by elected city and state officials.
Votes against the measure from early ballots tally to 18,766, or over 57% of the vote. Votes for the measure tally to over 14,000 or over 42% of the vote.
The tax would add 0.5% to non-grocery purchases, with 0.1% for transportation needs, 0.1% for TempePRE, a municipally funded preschool program, and 0.3% for “public safety,” which covers fire, police, and some infrastructure projects throughout the city.
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Tempe’s sales tax proposition in the Nov. 3 election, Prop. 424, is unpopular in early results with “no” votes leading by over 10% after months of campaigning by elected city and state officials.
Votes against the measure from early ballots tally to 18,766, or over 57% of the vote. Votes for the measure tally to over 14,000 or over 42% of the vote.
The tax would add 0.5% to non-grocery purchases, with 0.1% for transportation needs, 0.1% for TempePRE, a municipally funded preschool program, and 0.3% for “public safety,” which covers fire, police, and some infrastructure projects throughout the city.
Critics say that the tax is not needed, and that the city should have more public discussions about a tax before bringing it to voters.
City officials argue that the tax is needed to help keep the city in a good financial standing following the state Legislature’s repeal of the rental tax in 2022 which created a budget deficit in the city of $25 million.
The tax revenue is expected to create $50 million in its first year.
Results are not yet final and should the tax pass it could go into effect beginning Jan. 1, 2027.
Madeline Bates joined Independent Newsmedia in 2025 as a Phoenix/Tempe reporter. Before graduating college, she spent a semester in Washington as a Congressional reporter in the first 100 days of the second Trump administration. But local news is where her heart is. She is excited to be in Phoenix full time and exploring new parts of the city (as long as they have AC).
Community: After living in East Phoenix for two years, she fell in love with Paradise Valley, Mesa, Tempe, and everywhere in between. She recently discovered the beauty of the South Mountain Reserve and hopes to continue exploring should the weather comply.
Education: Madeline has a degree in Journalism and Mass Communications from Arizona State University’s Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and a certificate in Political History and Leadership.
Random Fact: She is a self-taught nail tech. No, she cannot do your nails.
Hobbies: Hiking (when its not 100 degrees), fiction writing, cooking, baking and trying new coffee shops.
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