As ballots roll out to voters in Tempe, the over 87,000 registered voters will decide to approve or deny Proposition 424, a permanent sales tax that adds 0.5% to non-grocery purchases for public safety, transportation and municipally funded preschool.
The process is making many supporters skeptical.
“I’ve always supported the taxes and bonds, but the poor legal language in this one is an immediate veto,” said Elaine Joyal, a scientist and botanist with a doctorate from Arizona State University.
Joyal has lived in Tempe for over 35 years and raised her family here. She said that she has almost always supported taxes and bonds to help schools and transportation and is willing to support measures that improve the city, but is skeptical about the legal language on public safety and is concerned about the recent police activity with incidents of force and lawsuits costing the city millions of dollars.
“Until they can demonstrate professional restraint, I am loath to give them more money,” Joyal said.
In July, Arizona State University senior Eryn Bonner was out with friends when police intervened after her friend and a passerby on Mill Avenue clashed. Police bodycam footage and business security footage show Bonner being pushed to the ground and punched while being put in handcuffs. The interaction made national headlines after the city pressed charges for resisting arrest and interfering with police.
Tempe Police also have a $3 million lawsuit against them after Tucson resident Kathleen Tierney posted an image from the television show Game of Thrones on social media with the caption referring to that night’s council meeting. The meeting was canceled with officers citing a “social media threat.” Tempe Police arrested Tierney in her home and brought her to a Tempe jail. She is suing for wrongful arrest and defamation.
Other residents have similar concerns.
Ron Tapscott is also a longtime city resident and says that he’s skeptical about the amount of funding, as the city claims that the deficit is around $25 million and the first year of the tax could bring in over $50 million.
“They are not good fiduciary agents to protect people’s tax money,” Tapscott said.
The city recently spent over $2 million on a sign above Mill Avenue that says “Mill Ave.” The sign has gained controversy as it was part of the Downtown Tempe Refresh Project and did not require a public discussion before approval.
“They are substantially clear about the symbolic value that the city does not honor taxpayer money and that they wastefully spend this money on the various different projects that they have,” Tapscott said.
Supporters of the tax, like the chair of the Tempe Forward PAC, Tom Duensing, say that the state Legislature’s ban on residential rental tax and a reduction of state revenue will create a deficit that could negatively impact city services.
“Tempe suffered the most significant loss of revenue of any other city in Arizona,” Duensing said in a debate about the issue. “Prop. 424 is an equitable solution because it exempts food for home consumption.”
He explained that Tempe businesses and visitors will also be contributing, as the tax applies to anything bought in the city.
“It should not be a debate. This is a strictly business decision,” Duensing said.
To voice your opinion on this story, connect with us at AzOpinions@iniusa.org.
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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